Customs
Food crisis: Customs intercepts 120 export trucks of foodstuffs nationwide
“Apart from policing the borders, our mandate is to also ensure the protection of agricultural inputs as essential elements of National powers which ensure food security because hunger is an essential element of chaos and uncertainties,” he said.
He emphasized the importance of representing the Service well to gain the trust of Nigerians and charged them to address their conduct, cautioning against the unauthorized use of social media.
Addressing members of the press, the CGC reiterated the Service’s commitment to ensuring national food security, “in our unwavering dedication to safeguarding our nation’s prosperity, I stand before you today to reaffirm the Customs Service’s solemn pledge to fortify our country’s food security.” he added.
The Comptroller-General of Customs said, “Our resolve remains steadfast as we navigate the challenges ahead, steadfastly upholding our duty to protect and nourish our beloved homeland.”
He emphasized that all actions of the Nigeria Customs Service are governed by the law and aimed at building a prosperous country.
He said, “In our relentless pursuit of upholding the integrity of international trade, I underscore the Customs’ unwavering vigilance in enforcing compliance with trade regulations.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, who announced measures to reduce the price of food items in the country and release food items to residents in Kano, also assured that “the Service would continue to operate within the law and maintain the status of food security in the country.”
CGC Adeniyi however stressed the importance of collaboration with relevant stakeholders and fostering good relations with community members.
He also used the medium to urge citizens to continue supporting the efforts of the Nigeria Customs Service in safeguarding national food security.
The visit of the Comptroller-General underscores the Service’s commitment to addressing critical issues such as food scarcity and ensuring the welfare of citizens across the nation.
The CGC also took his campaign on food sufficiency and effort to stop food exports to Dawanau International grains marketers where he urged them to avoid illegal exports, hoarding
He says, “This directive underscores the government’s commitment to mitigating the effects of food shortages and ensuring equitable distribution of resources amidst the current national crisis.”
He said the president had identified the ongoing hardship and food scarcity in the country, hence directed that the Act must be fully implemented to ensure that the food items were not illegally exported out of the country when people were in dire need of them.
The Comptroller-General then urged the Dawanau grains dealers to assist the government by complying with the directive banning the exportation of food items to provide enough food to the people.
“We work with you to ensure that our joint objective of achieving national law and so many issues which have been raised. I listened to you with rapt attention about creating an export warehouse in this market.”
“The Nigeria Customs Service will set up machinery that can be used to address issues around who operates the warehouse.”
“The President has asked me to request your understanding that during this period, we will implement the laws forbidding the exportation of certain grains such as beans, rice, and millet, among many others. We do not want those that are locally produced in Nigeria and those that are already imported to be re-exported out of the country.”
“You are a very big stakeholder in this particular business before today. I had a meeting with transporters. I met with journalists to get their support and understanding, and that’s why I’ve also come to this market because we know that this is the biggest market, the reason we must take an interest in where your exports are going.”
He maintained that “we will also make sure that we take on board and collaborate with other agencies like the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, and most importantly, the Central Bank of Nigeria because I understand that there is still a big issue we need to resolve.”
In his remarks, the President of the Dawanau Market Development Association, Muttaka Isah, told the Comptroller-General that members of the association were facing some challenges, which included “the unfounded allegation in some quarters that our dealers hoard grains in their warehouses.”
“I want to seize this opportunity, Sir, to deny this baseless allegation and to inform Nigerians that we do not hoard foodstuffs; whatever grains we procure from the growers and other sources, we store them in our warehouses for a while before we supply them directly to our customers in the markets.”
“So, we store these grains for operational convenience and to protect the foodstuffs from foreign bodies that might spoil them.” He said.
“Another challenge bedeviling this market is the near absence of operational understanding between our traders who import beans and the operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service, especially along the Nigeria-Niger International border.” He said.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Dawanau Development Association, Abdullahi Maidoya, expressed appreciation for CGC Adeniyi’s initiative in taking the time to interact with the market’s leadership and listen to their concerns.
Maidoya commended the Comptroller-General for his commitment to fostering a conducive business environment for traders within the market.
He particularly lauded the promise made by CGC Adeniyi to facilitate seamless business conditions, acknowledging the significance of such efforts in alleviating the challenges faced by businesspeople operating in the market.
Recognizing the importance of streamlining import processes, he emphasized the need for collaborative efforts between the Service and market stakeholders to address barriers and ensure the smooth flow of essential commodities into the country.
In another development, the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service has embarked on a comprehensive inspection visit to the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport and some Bonded Terminals under the jurisdiction of NCS Kano/Jigawa Area Command.
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EFCC amends charges, re-arraigns ex-Customs boss for alleged N1.9bn contract fraud
The Eyewitness Reporter
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) on Friday, April 26, 2024, re-arraigned a former Assistant Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service, Bridget Okafor, before Justice Venchak .S. Gaba of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Kuje, Abuja.
Okafor alongside her Company Bridkass Investment Integrated Limited is facing trial on 13 amended count charges bordering on abuse of office, misappropriation and contract scam to the tune of N1,966,378,045.85 (One Billion, Nine Hundred and Sixty-Six Million, Three Hundred and Seventy Eight Thousand, Forty-Five Naira, Eighty-Five Kobo).
Count seven of the charges reads; “That you, BRIDGET CHIENYEZU OKAFOR whilst being employed in the public service as Assistant Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service in charge of Finance and Revenue, sometime in 2014 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did knowingly acquire a private interest in contracts awarded by Nigeria Customs Service to NIKOBI INTERNATIONAL, a business enterprise of your son (CHIKWADO OKAFOR) and for which the Nigeria Customs Service paid the gross sum of N329,021,640.00 (Three Hundred and Twenty-Nine Million, Twenty-One Thousand, Six Hundred and Forty Naira only) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 12 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000”.
She pleaded not guilty to all the thirteen-count charges when they were read to her.
In view of her plea, prosecution counsel, Attah M. Ocholi requested the court to enter the second defendant’s plea as not guilty too since it’s her company.
He, however, requested to continue the testimony of the sixth prosecution witness, PW6, Agid Mohammed.
Mohammed, a detective with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,(EFCC) said the Commission in January 2016 received an intelligence about valuable items suspected to be proceeds of crime kept at the residence of a former Comptroller General of Customs, late Abdullahi Dikko Inde.
“After receiving the Intel, a surveillance was carried out, and then we obtained a search warrant. We went to the apartment and conducted a search and found incriminating items, and they were duly recovered.”
“We wrote to the Customs Service and requested for 7% cost of collection and 1% Comprehensive Import Supervision Scheme of 2014-2015, and how it was disbursed.
”We received and analyzed it, and then we wrote to the Customs and invited the first defendant, Mrs. Okafor, for an interview. She came and volunteered her statement in writing. She was interviewed in a well-ventilated office with windows and other people were present too.”
Testifying further, Mohammed informed the court that the EFCC received another intelligence in January 2016 about other valuable items suspected to be proceeds of crime kept at the residence of a former Comptroller General of Customs, late Abdullahi Dikko Inde. A search was conducted, and incriminating items were recovered.
“Further investigation revealed a fraudulent diversion of over N40 billion from the Nigeria Customs Service in 2014, allegedly involving the first defendant.
“The first defendant was asked if she wanted to volunteer her statement, and she agreed. I then brought out the EFCC statement sheet, and she volunteered a written statement and signed it, and I counter-signed as a witness, ” he said.
Asked what they recovered when they secured a search warrant in the first defendant’s home, Mohammed said they recovered various items, including letter-headed papers of companies linked to Okafor’s children in her bedroom.
“The companies, Ponial Interglobal Investment Nigeria Limited, Nikobi International Limited, Tabes Concept International Limited, Bridkass Investment Integrated Limited and Guap Properties and Realtors Services Limited, were all linked to the first defendant’s children, and they executed contracts with the Nigerian Customs Service and received payments”, he said.
The witness also disclosed that Okafor was the signatory to various bank accounts and had influence over the award of contracts in the Nigeria Customs Service because she was still in active service when the contracts were awarded.
“My Lord, the first defendant was still the Assistant Comptroller General of Customs when the contracts were executed, and she reported to the Deputy Comptroller General, Finance, Administration, and Technical Services, whose office is saddled with the responsibility of awarding contracts in the Nigerian Customs Service.”
After listening to the testimony of Mohammed, Justice Gaba adjourned the matter until June 26, 2024, for cross-examination and continuation of the trial.
Okafor was first arraigned on May 19, 2019, before the same judge in FCT High Court, Kwali before he was transferred to Kuje FCT High Court.
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