…Clarifies his company name is Limark International Nigeria Limited
…Says allegation handiwork of opponents
The interim Chairman of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, ANLCA, Abuja Airport chapter, Prince Yakubu Atokolo has finally opened up on the 6,182 kilograms of Tramadol recently seized by the officials of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Federal Capital Territory, FCT Command at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Cargo Section, Abuja.
It will recalled that this medium reported two days ago that the illicit consignment was intercepted at the Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited, SAHCOL bonded warehouse with Limark Nigeria Limited as the consignee while Prince Yakubu Atokolo, the Interim Chairman of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, ANLCA, Abuja Airport chapter and Alhaji Ibrahim Akanbi Umar, the immediate past Chairman, ANLCA Abuja Airport chapter, were alleged to be the agents.
While Alhaji Ibrahim Akanbi Umar ‘s reaction to the allegation was captured and published in the last edition, Prince Atokolo’s reaction could not be captured as he was not available to state his own part of the story.
However, speaking with Journalists on Thursday, Atokolo said he runs an honest and transparent company in the name of Limark International Nigeria Limited adding that he had never done business at any time with Limark Nigeria Limited nor had any knowledge of the existence of such a company.
According to him, Neither him, his company, Limark International Nigeria Limited nor Alhaji Ibrahim Umar nor Saratab Global Services were indicted by the Nigeria Customs Service during the press briefing where the seized Tramadol were paraded before newsmen.
Noting that the allegation was a smear campaign from his detractors and political enemies, Atokolo said, “The false allegation is a result of a political tussle between me and other political opponents in the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, ANLCA.
“The report in some sections of the media is not only false and misleading but also politically motivated and sponsored by my opponents in the ANLCA. Alhaji Ibrahim Umar has no business with me. Alhaji Umar and I are not business associates, we operate separate businesses. I wonder why they would link him with me. We operate under two different companies.”
Continuing,the interim Chairman said, “All the shipper’s information is contained in the shipment papers which are in the custody of the NDLEA (National Drug Law Enforcement Agency) and none of these were linked to me or my company.
“I was never on the run, my lawyers have visited the NDLEA office in Abuja and I have instructed my legal team to proceed with legal actions against the media house that published the false and defamatory article.”
He thereafter, praised the efforts of the Nigerian Customs Service and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA for the good work they were doing, saying he believed a thorough investigation would be conducted and justice served appropriately.
“I believe in the abilities of the Nigerian Customs Service under the able leadership of CG Adewale Bashir Adeniyi to conduct a thorough investigation. Even the NDLEA would pursue a thorough and dispassionate investigation in the matter especially considering the shipper’s documents which are in their custody and which contains all the information of the origin and destination of the contraband”, he stated.
Photo: (L-R): Muhammad Jidda, NDLEA Commandant, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja in a handshake with Comptroller Olumide Adebisi, Customs Area Controller, FCT Command during the handover ceremony of the seized Tramadol in Abuja on Monday.
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