Ogun Customs convict three persons for vandalising patrol vans, rakes N1.2b revenue

By Dapo Olawuni }

The Federal High Court Abeokuta has convicted three persons for vandalising patrol vans belonging to the Nigeria Customs Service in Ogun State.

This is even as the Ogun Command of Customs has announced the collection of a whooping N1.2billion revenue into government coffers within the period of 1st to 31st July, 2019.

In a press statement sent to our correspondent yesterday by Public Relations Officer of the command, Abdullahi Maiwada, the three accused persons were convicted on the 28th of June, 2019.

He alleged that the accused namely; Yakubu Olamide, Paul Ayinla, Ayinde Adebayo vandalized official patrol vehicle attached to Team “H” Roving “A” Anti-Smuggling Patrol Team at Ashipa forest on 22nd September, 2017.
The court found the accused persons guilty jointly and severally and sentenced them accordingly.

Maiwada said the Command is unrelenting in pursuing other cases including the murder of one of its personnel (CA I Hamisu Sani) on the 6th of January, 2019 with the major suspect involved in the case now in custody.

The breakdown of revenue collection by the command within the period of 1st to 31st July, 2019 shows a monthly Target of N643, 471, 763.99, meanwhile, total revenue collected was N 1, 281, 034, 042.80 with difference (Excess) of N637, 562, 278.81.

While in the area of anti-smuggling during the period under review, the Command made 102 seizures comprising of 7, 848 bags of foreign parboiled rice (50 kg each)
23 units of vehicles (7 used vehicles and16 means of conveyance)
32 kegs of vegetable oil (25liters each)
201pairs of used tyres
3 sacks of used foot wears,
320 bags of sugar (50kg each)
4 bales and 1 sack of secondhand clothing
200 kegs of PMS (Petrol) of 25 litres each.
Total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the items is N137, 950, 082.00

According to the statement “The seizure of over 7, 848 bags of rice (50kg each) in the month of July, 2019 is indeed a landmark among numerous successes recorded by the Command. This is evidently a patriotic duty by the Service to fully align with one of the cardinal Federal Government Policies targeted at boosting Agricultural Development with a view to attaining national food self-sufficiency”

Due to the recent decision by Management of Nigeria Customs Service directing the unbundling and creation of eight new Area Commands within the Service, the Ogun Command has now been divided into Ogun 1 and Ogun 2.

“The Ogun Command is privileged to be among the beneficiaries with a view of enhancing administrative efficiency and boosting revenue generation for the Service. The two brand new Area Commands in Ogun state are Ogun I and Ogun II Area Commands. Ogun I will have an area of coverage relating to regulation and enforcement of all import, export and anti-smuggling related activities in Ogun state with Headquarters at Idiroko.

“While Ogun II Area Command will be saddled with the responsibilities of enforcing and regulating all Excise (industries under Excise control), Free Trade Zone and Parcel Post related activities in Ogun state with Headquarters at Abeokuta”

“This visionary development is based on the outcome of the Nigeria Customs Service Board at its 50th Regular meeting held on 21st May 2019.
Finally, I wish to commend the sister agencies, opinion leaders, heads of traditional institutions, eminent personalities, fourth realm of the estate (the Media) and other law abiding members of the public for their unflinching support to NCS in Ogun state. It is our believe that the new structure of Nigeria Customs Service in Ogun state will indeed be recipe for further cementing the existing relationship towards the overall growth, development and stability of our dear country Nigeria” the statement reads