Customs
Customs secures conviction of South Africa – inbound passenger arrested with $578,000 at Lagos Airport
Funso OLOJO
One of the counts reads: “That you, Okorie Sylvernus Sunday, on the 19th day of March, 2025 in Lagos, within the Jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, failed to make a declaration of the sum of $299,000 (Two Hundred and Ninety Nine Thousand United States Dollars), which you concealed in Relaxer containers to the Nigerian Customs Service at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, and thereby committed an offence Contrary to and Punishable under Section 3(5) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
He pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him.
Consequently, Justice Dipeolu adjourned till March 26, 2025 for the commencement of trial and also ordered the defendant to be remanded in the Correctional Centre.
However, at the resumed sitting on Wednesday, defence counsel, U. Okoronkwo, told the court that the defendant would like to change his plea from “not guilty” to “guilty.”
In view of this prosecution counsel, C.C.Okezie, prayed the court to withdraw counts three and four of the charges. The judge, thereafter, removed both counts three and four of the charges preferred against the defendant.
However, while the defendant was about to change his plea, he slumped during the proceedings and was immediately taken to the clinic.
Thereafter, Okezie, told the court that “We were informed by the clinic upstairs that he requires medical attention. However, the Correctional Centre does not have the facility to do so in time.”
The Judge remanded the defendant in the EFCC custody and also stood down the case.
When the court resumed sitting, the defendant “pleaded guilty” to the two-count charges preferred against him.
Following his guilty plea, Okezie, called both N.B. Tonbor, an operative of the NCS and Felicia Paul, an operative of the EFCC, to review the facts of the case . Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel , Tonbor told the court he works in the Anti-money Laundering Unit of the Nigeria Customs Service, Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos. He added that his job entailed profiling passengers departing and arriving at the Airport.
He said: “ On March 19, 2025, at 9:10.p.m., Mr. Okorie Sunday approached the Currency Declaration Desk and was asked how much he had on him. He declared that he had the sum of $ 279,000.
“My team was not convinced by the declaration, so they searched further. By checking the bags , they found money concealed in a pack of cream . The said money was tied in a nylon and wrapped with a cello tape”.
“When it was unveiled, we saw various amounts and the sum total was counterfeit $299,000 United States Dollars and One Hundred Euros, which were not declared.
“Upon discovery of the money, a call was placed to our Area Comptroller, who gave the order for the passenger to be refrained. He was later handed over to the EFCC, being the body tasked to prosecute money launderers.”
When he was shown the declaration form and the handing-over note, the witness identified the Declaration Form of the defendant, the handing-over note from the Customs as well as the undeclared sums of money.
Okezie, thereafter, sought to tender , in evidence, the documents.Justice Dipeolu admitted and marked them as exhibits 1, 2 and 3.
In her review of the facts, Paul told the court that the NCS contacted the EFCC that it had arrested a suspect from South Africa, adding that “The defendant was handed over to the Commission along with the sum of $578,000 and €100.
“Thereafter, the defendant was interviewed. During the interview, he said he arrived in Nigeria and went to declare the cash that he brought to the country to the Nigeria Customs Service.
“After being interviewed under caution, he said he could not write; so, his son, Okorie Emeka, wrote his statement on his behalf .
“He said he did not declare them because he did not know the actual amount, as he was given the money by some of his friends from South Africa to give to a Bureau De Change operator in Ikeja, Lagos.”
Paul further told the court that Sunday was served with an administrative bail, but he could not fulfill the required conditions.
“ He was, therefore, detained in our custody and the bureau de change operator he was to give the money to was also invited to the office . His name is Abdul Rasheed Suleiman. He was interviewed and his statement was also recorded.”
Paul identified the statement of the defendant, statement of the bureau de change operator and the statement of the Nigeria Customs’ officer who handed over the defendant to the EFCC. The prosecution counsel then sought to tender, in evidence, the documents.
Justice Dipeolu admitted and marked them as exhibits 5 , 6 and 7, respectively.
the defendant guilty on counts 1 and 2. He is accordingly convicted as charged.”
Okezie prayed the court that the undeclared sums of Two Hundred and Ninety-nine United States Dollars ($299,000) and One Hundred Euros ( €100 ) be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria and that the defendant be sentenced.
The defence counsel, while addressing the court, said that the defendant “is a first-time offender, who has no criminal record.
“ He pleaded guilty to the offences as captured at the next opportunity upon arraignment and did not waste the time of the court.”
He, therefore, urged the court “to see it as a sign of remorse.” He further described the convict as “a businessman, who allowed himself to be misled and did not know the extent and gravity of the offence.
“He has realised his decision was wrong and would do things differently. “
He, therefore, prayed the court to temper justice with mercy and consider forfeiture of the sums undeclared as a punishment in this circumstance.
Justice Dipeolu convicted and sentenced the defendant to six months imprisonment.
The Judge also ordered that the sums of Hundred and Ninety-nine United States Dollars ($299,000) and One Hundred Euros ( €100 ) be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Customs
Customs PR officers dominate NCCSC graduation, clinch overall best honours
Gloria Odion, Maritime reporter
The Public Relations Unit of the Nigeria Customs Service has recorded a rare academic feat as two of its officers emerged the top graduating students at the Nigeria Customs Service Command and Staff College (NCCSC), Gwagwalada.
At the graduation ceremony for Senior Course 14 held on Friday,June 26th, 2026, Chief Superintendent of Customs (CSC) Ridwan Yusuf was named the Overall Best Graduating Student, capping an outstanding performance by winning three additional awards.
His colleague, CSC Nuruddeen Sa’idu, was named the Second Best Graduating Student, completing a remarkable sweep by officers from the Service’s Public Relations Unit.
The double honour highlights the intellectual depth, leadership capacity and professionalism within the Customs Public Relations Unit, demonstrating that its officers excel not only in strategic communication but also in administration, operational management and policy leadership.
Beyond the accolades, the achievement is expected to open another chapter in their careers, as both officers may be retained by the College as Directing Staff, in keeping with the institution’s tradition of engaging its highest-performing graduates to mentor future participants.
If confirmed, the appointments would recognise their exceptional academic and professional abilities while entrusting them with the responsibility of shaping the next generation of Customs leaders, although their absence would be keenly felt within the Public Relations Unit.
The Nigeria Customs Service Public Relations Unit congratulated both officers on their outstanding accomplishments and wished them continued success as they assume greater responsibilities in service to the nation.
Customs
Retirement gale sweeps through Customs as Olomu,Bomodi,Oladeji,Adeola,Adebakin, Niagwan among 1,516 officers set to exit service
Funso OLOJO, Editor
A massive retirement wave is set to rip through the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), with no fewer than 1,516 officers — including several top-ranking officers — pencilled down to leave the Service in 2026 and 2027 in what appears to be one of the largest personnel exits in the agency’s recent history.
The impending retirement storm, which cuts across virtually all cadres of the Service, will see officers from the rank of Deputy Comptroller-General down to Customs Assistant II bow out under statutory retirement provisions, leaving a major vacuum in the upper and middle ranks of the paramilitary agency.
Documents obtained by TheEyewitnessnews show that 825 officers are scheduled to retire in 2026, while another 691 are expected to leave in 2027, bringing the total number of exits within the two-year period to 1,516.
The retirement notices are contained in two restricted circulars issued by the Human Resources and Development Department of the Service and signed by the Comptroller, Establishment, A.A. Bazuaye, on behalf of the Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Human Resources and Development.
The first circular, No. HRD/2025/048 dated September 19, 2025, contains what the Service described as the final list of 825 officers billed to retire in 2026.
A breakdown of the 2026 list shows that the Deputy Superintendent of Customs cadre accounts for the highest number of exits with 285 officers, followed by the Superintendent of Customs cadre with 226 officers.
Other cadres affected in the 2026 retirement exercise are Assistant Superintendent of Customs I with 64 officers; Chief Customs Officer, 53; Deputy Customs Officer, 51; Assistant Customs Officer, 46; Chief Superintendent of Customs, 61; Inspector of Customs, eight; Assistant Superintendent of Customs II, 10; Customs Assistant I, one; Customs Assistant II, two; Assistant Comptroller-General, 13; and Deputy Comptroller-General, five.
A second circular, No. HRD/2026/020 dated May 26, 2026, forwarded a draft list of 691 officers due for statutory retirement in 2027.
The 2027 retirement schedule shows that the Superintendent of Customs cadre will record the highest number of exits with 200 officers, followed by the Deputy Superintendent of Customs cadre with 193 officers.
Others on the 2027 list are Deputy Customs Officer, 81; Chief Superintendent of Customs, 68; Assistant Customs Officer, 57; Assistant Superintendent of Customs I, 39; Chief Customs Officer, 38; Assistant Superintendent of Customs II, four; Customs Assistant I, four; Customs Assistant II, four; Inspector of Customs, two; and Assistant Comptroller-General, four.
Both circulars directed all affected officers to proceed on mandatory pre-retirement leave in line with Public Service Rule 100238 and Federal Government Circular No. 63216/S.1/X/T; CR 1/2001/5 of March 20, 2001.
The directive stated that all officers due for retirement must disengage from active service and proceed on three months’ pre-retirement leave ahead of their effective retirement dates, while also forwarding their three-month pre-retirement notices to the Comptroller-General of Customs.
Among the senior officers affected in the 2026 retirement exercise are Deputy Comptrollers-General Omale (SVC No. 41148), who retired on June 7, 2026; Nnadi (SVC No. 43193), whose retirement took effect on March 3, 2026; Chiroma (SVC No. 42988), who is due to retire on September 23, 2026; and Adeola MRS (SVC No. 42972) and Niagwan (SVC No. 41524), both scheduled to retire on December 23, 2026.
Among the Assistant Comptrollers-General on the 2026 retirement list are Egwuh (SVC No. 38991), who retired on March 14, 2026; Umoh (SVC No. 41351), who exited the Service on February 2, 2026; Mohammed (SVC Nos. 41394 and 41395), both due to retire on June 24, 2026; and Abe (SVC No. 41110), whose retirement date is August 21, 2026.
Others listed for retirement include Olomu (SVC No. 41145), Olaniyan (SVC No. 41197), Yusuf (SVC No. 41257), Oladeji (SVC No. 41308) and Gaji (SVC No. 41328), all scheduled to retire on September 24, 2026.
Also on the list are Adebakin (SVC No. 41670) and Bomodi (SVC No. 42758), both due for retirement on September 23, 2026, as well as Nyam (SVC No. 40428) and Abubakar (SVC No. 40139), whose retirement dates are October 1, 2026, among others.
In the 2027 circular, the Service opened a window for complaints and corrections, directing that any observed error, omission or legitimate complaint arising from the attached retirement list should be forwarded to the office of the Deputy Comptroller-General, Human Resources and Development, on or before July 31, 2026.
To ensure the notices get to all affected officers, Zonal Coordinators, Area Controllers and Unit Heads were directed to circulate the retirement lists across commands and formations.
But beyond the raw figures, the sweeping retirement exercise has exposed a deeper structural imbalance in the Service.
Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Customs and Excise, Abejide Leke Joseph, traced the development to a prolonged recruitment gap and years of promotion stagnation in the Nigeria Customs Service.
According to him, a 16-year period of non-recruitment created an unusual personnel bulge, as officers within the 41000, 42000 and 43000 service number brackets rose through the ranks almost at the same pace and now find themselves hitting retirement age or service limits within the same window.
The result, he explained, is a top-heavy structure in which a large number of officers now occupy similar seniority levels and are due to leave almost simultaneously.
Abejide said the retirement of more than 1,500 officers should not be misconstrued as part of any succession plot within the Customs hierarchy, insisting that the exercise is a routine and legally mandated process under Public Service Rule 100238.
The development is coming against the backdrop of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval of a final six-month tenure extension for the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, effectively keeping him in office until February 2027.
The Presidency announced on Friday that Adeniyi’s tenure, earlier scheduled to expire on August 1, 2026, had been extended by another six months to enable him complete key reforms in the Service.
In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency said the extension would allow the Customs boss to consolidate the implementation of the National Single Window project and also ensure an orderly succession process in the Service.
More significantly, the statement made it clear that Adeniyi would work with the Nigeria Customs Service Board during the transition period to oversee critical personnel decisions, including the promotion of eligible officers to the rank of Comptroller and the compulsory retirement of officers who have attained 60 years of age or put in 35 years in service.
That presidential directive effectively places Adeniyi at the centre of one of the most consequential personnel transitions in the recent history of the Nigeria Customs Service — a transition that will shape not only the next generation of Customs leadership, but also the internal balance of power within the Service.
Customs
Excitement as President Tinubu Extends CGC Adeniyi’s Tenure by Six Months
Funso OLOJO, Editor
A wave of excitement swept through the maritime industry following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval of a six-month extension of the tenure of the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi.
In a statement issued on June 19th, 2026, and signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, President Tinubu said the extension was necessary to enable Adeniyi to consolidate ongoing reforms, particularly the implementation of the National Single Window project, while also ensuring an orderly succession process within the service.
According to the Presidency, Adeniyi’s current tenure was due to expire on August 1st, 2026.
The six-month extension will now keep him in office until February 2027.
During the transition period, Adeniyi is expected to work closely with the Nigeria Customs Service Board to oversee the promotion of qualified officers to the rank of Comptroller of Customs and facilitate the compulsory retirement of officers who have attained the statutory retirement age of 60 years or completed 35 years in service.
Adeniyi joined the Nigeria Customs Service after graduating from Obafemi Awolowo University in the late 1980s.
He steadily rose through the ranks, becoming a Deputy Comptroller in 2012, Comptroller in 2017, Assistant Comptroller-General in 2020, and Acting Deputy Comptroller-General in January 2023 before being appointed Comptroller-General by President Tinubu in June 2023.
Maritime stakeholders who welcomed the development described the extension as an opportunity for the Customs boss to complete the far-reaching reforms he initiated within the service.
One freight forwarder, who preferred anonymity, described the decision as a positive development.
“This is a welcome development because it will enable the Comptroller-General to complete the reforms he has started in the Nigeria Customs Service,” he said.
“His tenure has been a watershed in the history of the NCS.
“The service has witnessed unprecedented transformation in its operations, revenue generation, trade facilitation, and anti-smuggling activities.
“Granting him an extension is a well-thought-out administrative decision by President Tinubu to allow him to complete these achievements.”
Another stakeholder said the extension reflects the confidence of the Presidency in Adeniyi’s leadership.
“The tenure extension is a clear endorsement of Adeniyi’s transformative leadership of the Nigeria Customs Service and the progress recorded under his administration,” the stakeholder remarked.
Industry observers believe the extension will provide continuity for ongoing modernization initiatives and help sustain the momentum of reforms aimed at enhancing trade facilitation, revenue collection, and border security.
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