The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has saud that it dismissed twenty-nine (29) Senior officers of the Service for various acts of gross misconduct.
The dismissed officers are among forty-four (44) Senior officers who were punished for actions capable of compromising national economy and security.
According to a release signed by the Customs Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr. Wale Adeniyi, ten (10) other officers were retired from Service, while the appointment of one (1) was terminated.
He pointed out that four (4) officers were given written warnings to be of better conduct while another four (4) officers who were investigated and tried for some offences were exonerated.
Adeniyi gave the break down of the officers affected to include four (4) officers in the rank of Deputy-Comptroller of Customs, while five (5) were Assistant-Comptroller.
Others according to him were seven (7) Chief Superintendents of Customs and four (4) Superintendents, among others.
The Customs spokesman recalled that Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hammed Ali (Rtd) had made it clear upon assumption of duties that the Service would not compromise on Corruption and Indiscipline among the officers corps adding that in line with this, the structure and process for investigation of offences was strengthened to handle cases reported promptly and professionally.
“We will give all officers fair hearing in line with the principle of natural justice. We will however insist that sanctions be punitive, not only to match the offence committed, but to serve as deterrent to others”, the CGC was quoted as having remarked at Management meeting convened to consider the report of the Disciplinary Committee that investigated the cases.
“The process leading to the actions taken on the officers was painstaking in line with the Public Service Rules (PSR). All the officers were served with queries indicating offences committed, before they made appearances before the Special Investigation Committee. The Committee’s recommendation was discussed and approved by the Customs Management. The recommendation was thereafter referred to the Presidency for ratification, in the absence of a substantive Board for the Nigeria Customs Service. All the officers affected in the exercise have been communicated accordingly.
“The Comptroller-General warned officers that punitive sanctions will continue to be used to discipline officers who refuse to embrace change.
“Officers affected in this exercise were investigated for involvement in improper examination and release of containers without proper documentation and payment of duties, illegal release of goods in advance before the arrival of vessels, collection of bribe to release prohibited items, release of export prohibitions, fraudulent sale of seized items, use of fake certificates and bribery to secure auctioned goods”, he said.
It will be recalled that the service last week, similarly dismissed seventeen (17) Junior officers from service for offences ranging from bribery, drug addiction, use of fake certificates to absence from duty.
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