The anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has said that it has delegated 3- man freight agents operating at the Tincan Island Ports to investigate the alleged systemic corruption of Deputy Comptroller (DC) Saidu Aliu and Assistant Comptroller (AC) Zarma at the Customs Processing Centre (CPC) at the Tincan Island Ports.
The National Chairman of the Unit, Hon. Increase Uche who made this known in a press statement he issued in Lagos on Tuesday said that the delegation was to investigate the alleged corruption leveled against the customs officers in t5he past three years and report back to the headquarters within three weeks.
According to Uche,” They are to undertake the investigation of the alleged underhand deals around rerouting of risk channels, abuse and manipulation of local alert rules and extortion therein, stoppage of exited containers at the gates, bench marking of value questions in Customs operation and alleged faking of officers’ passwords. The whole of these unpatriotic acts/unprofessional conducts are being put at well over N20 Million non receipted collections per day.
“The team is also expected to ascertain if DC Saidu Aliu and his utility Officer have stayed more than three years at TCIP and equally investigate assets declaration conformity of the Officers. A three week time frame is required to submit their report of findings for further action. It is a mandate that all NAGAFF members and freight agents who may have been extorted should come forward with documentary evidence/s for the actualization and a thorough job of the investigators.
“We regret to observe that DC Aliu Saidu may have so intimidated, harassed and most time may have extorted the Customs examiners with issues related to password blocking or non blocking over a minor infraction arising from inspection act. DC Aliu Saidu may be acting as a professional blackmailer dating back to Alh. Abdullahi Inde Dikko’s era. His service was transferred to Customs for obvious reasons which may be manifesting at the moment”.
Uche who is the former Secretary General of NAGAFF said NAGAFF was ready to ensure and support the new Comptroller-General of Customs to actualize the presidential mandate which may not work with officers like DC Aliu Saidu of the CPC TCIP saying that It was in the public domain that what should be the primary duty of an APM was the administration and management of ASYCUDA in the
Customs Information Technology (IT) application which was at the moment under abuse.
“This press release is being endorsed to the appropriate Government heads for their information at this stage. It is most unfortunate that most of the Government functionaries have been sabotaging the efforts of the Government to rid Nigeria of corrupt practices. It is therefore our view that the fight against corruption must not be left for Mr. President alone, but for the entire Nigerians to join hands in this crusade.
“We sincerely wish that the CGC should quickly conclude his official visitation and courtesy calls at Customs formations and to State Executives etc fast and settle down for the business of reform,
restructuring and enhanced revenue collection mandate of the Service. It is unnecessary the ongoing seizures of traded goods over minor trade offences, we do advice the CGC because, Government needs money at the moment. It is also important we avoid the sale of auction goods without meeting up with the requirements as clearly stated in the auction code and Section 31 of CEMA. Let us join hands with Mr. President to make Nigeria great once again”, he added.
When contacted, the Command Public Relations Officer, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Tincan Island Command, Mr. Chris Osunkwo said he was not aware of the said press release adding that he would need to see a copy of the press release as well as confer with the Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Command in order to give the position of the command on the alleged corruption leveled against the two officers of the command.
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