Maritime Police Command, Lagos nabs 2 CMA-CGM staff for maritime criminal acts

By Abiodun OBA

Two suspects who are staff of CMA-CGM Nigeria Limited, Lagos have been arrested for conspiracy, forgery, impersonation, blackmailing and extortion of unsuspecting members of the public doing businesses at the nation’s ports.

A statement by the Maritime Police Command Ag. Police Public Relations Officer, ASP EHINMODE, Rowland Adewumi disclosed the suspects as the Customer Service Manager, Gbenga Solomon, 48, and Erhimu Igho, 59.

The duo were said to have been arrested consequent upon a complaint lodged at the Maritime Police Command headquarters alleging that some containers were blocked with purported documents from the Command.

Recall that the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Maritime Police Command, AIG Olofu A. Rhoda, upon assumption of office in November 2023, had ordered the immediate release of all containers blocked or placed on lien at the ports without cogent reasons, to give effect to the Federal Government’s policy on Ease of doing Business at the country’s seaports, warning that blocking of containers should be based only on credible information.

Investigation however, revealed that the arrested suspects conspired and forged Maritime Police Command’s official documents, impersonated Police officers of Maritime Command and blocked over 20 containers with four bills of lading for purposes of extorting money from the consignee and clearing agents.

The suspects have since been charged to Court and remanded in Prison custody.

“AIG Olofu Rhoda frowns at these unwholesome, fraudulent and criminally minded individuals and hereby warns all those who are in the habit of perpetrating these types of criminality and other forms of illegalities at the Ports to desist from such as the full wrath of the law will be meted on anyone found culpable.

“Furthermore, the AIG advised all law-abiding citizens especially port users to always verify from the Maritime Command the authenticity of any purported Investigation Activities or Container Blockage letters to ascertain whether they emanated from the Command or not as the Command operates an open-door policy,” Ehinmode concluded.