The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit Zone A, Ikeja Lagos on Tuesday arraigned two suspected smugglers; Mr. Oyedeji Rashidi and Mr. Shuaib Sheyi before Chief Magistrate Y.A. Aje-Afunwa of the Magistrate Court, Ikeja, Lagos State on nine (9) counts charge of smuggling prohibited items.
The two suspects have been remanded in Ikoyi Prison awaiting trial as the case was adjourned to February 15, 2017.
David Badejogbin Esq. who led the legal team of the Nigeria Customs Service prayed that the court expedite the legal proceedings to serve as deterrent to others.
The Command Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr. Jerry Attah in a press release issued in Ikeja yesterday recalled that the operatives of the unit on Thursday 13 October, 2016 following a tip off trailed some smugglers to Alakuko /Kola Junction area of Agege Lagos and intercepted two vehicles laden with smuggled rice.
Attah noted that while taking the seized goods to the office, one of the suspects, Oyedeyi Rashidi incited a mob attack against the operatives.
He added that the mob were armed with various dangerous weapons such as guns, cutlasses, broken bottle, sticks, stones among others, a development which resulted to a shootout between the customs men and the smugglers.
According to him,”While some of these hoodlums confronted our operatives, others rescued one of the arrested vehicles loaded with smuggled rice. Only the intervention of our reinforcement saved one of the vehicles, and ensured the arrest of a suspect. The professional conduct of our operatives prevented a complete breakdown of law and order or serious fatalities in a densely populated area.
“However, when the smugglers’ gang leader using their chain of informants got to know that our Unit was charging the suspect (Oyedeji Rashidi) to Court on Tuesday being 18th October 2016, they mobilized with the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, Lagos State Branch to stage an unruly protest to the Federal Operations Unit Zone A Ikeja demanding the unconditional release of the suspect in our custody. It is amazing that such credible Human Rights body would allow themselves to be used by the smugglers who mean no good for the country”.
The Command spokesman reiterated that the fact that a smuggler had evaded scrutiny either by following unapproved route or compromising any operatives did not guarantee that the smuggled item would not be seized anywhere it was found by patrol officers whose duty was to ensure compliance.
He quoted the Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Unit, Comptroller Mohammed Dahiru Umar as having commended the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Fatai Owoseni for his prompt deployment of his men to stop what would have caused serious tensions and casualties.
The CAC said that the spirit of inter-agency relationship among security agencies couldn’t be over emphasized noting that the economic saboteurs were desperate to smuggle into the Country over 600 metric tonnes of rice rotting away in warehouses located across our borders.
Umar restated the determination of his operatives to frustrate their plans and bring them to book accordingly.
“The Controller advised the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights to always verify their claims before embarking on any struggle to enhance their credibility and integrity. He noted that taking sides with suspected smugglers was not within their mandate”, Attah stated.
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