Customs sets up committee to uncover illegal importers of military hardware

Tayo Oladipupo |

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has inaugurated a committee to investigate and uncover importers and others remotely connected to the myriad of importation of military hardware into the country in recent times.

This was contained in a statement made available to journalists by the National Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Service, Deputy Comptroller Joseph Attah on Wednesday.

It added that five persons have been arrested in connection with the illegal importation so far.

The investigation panel chaired by Zonal Coordinator, Zone ‘C’ Headquarters, ACG Sanusi Umar, has a five point agenda which includes; “investigating through the concerned parties, all alleged breaches of the Customs Import Clearance Procedure as set out in our extant law/statute books.

“To investigate and establish the full facts of the case in relation to the importation of both containers (MRSU 3040288 and MRKU 4909151).

“To identify all parties involved in the unholy importations and establish their degree of culpabilities.

“To profile all importation previously made by the sole importer or his cronies with the intent of discovering if possibly, this has been a trend.

“To make recommendations to the NCS Management on the way forward with the case based on the investigations made, among others.

Recall that within the last one month, Officers and Men of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone ‘C’ and Operatives of the Onne Area II Command Port-Harcourt at different times, intercepted a 2X40ft containers, MRSU 3040288 and MRKU 4909151 found to contain Military Camouflages and other items on the 27th July 2018 and 16th August 2018 respectively.

Attah further stated that while the first interception was found to contain 11 bales, each containing 400 pairs of new set of military camouflage uniform totalling 4400 sets, the second interception was found to contain 620 sets of completely sewn military camouflage uniform and caps, 10,100 pieces of inner military T-Shirts, 512 pairs of military jungle boots contrary to Schedule 4(13) of the ECOWAS Common External Tariff which falls under Absolute Prohibition and Section 46(b) of Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA).

The CGC while inaugurating the committees said, “even though preliminary investigations have led to the arrest of five persons including the importer of both consignments, it is imperative that a painstaking investigation is conducted to unravel all those who are remotely connected to the criminal importations with a view to punishing offenders and preventing reoccurrence”.

Responding on behalf of the Committee members, the Chairman of the panel, ACG Sanusi Umar assured the CGC of a thorough investigation saying no stone would be left unturned.

He added that as Nigerians and Officers of the NCS, whose personal safeties and professional integrities can be negatively affected by the criminal importations, they would stop at nothing to bring back quality report.

Other members of the panel comprise, ACG E,I&I, ACG Bukar Amajam, DC Olomu B.O, AC Okonmah, S Mr. J.O Oloworaran – DIA and Barrister T.K Wudapba – NCS Legal Adviser.