…..Says unit recorded N35.9bn seizures, arrested 386 suspects
Out gone Controller, Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’ of the Nigeria Customs Service, Comptroller Hussein Ejibunu said the unit recorded 3,189 seizures worth N35.9 during his tenure from September 10, 2021, to April 19, 2024.
Ejibunu who presented his scorecard while handing over the unit to the new Controller, Comptroller Kola Oladeji in Lagos on Friday added that the unit under his watch recovered the sum of N 2.25 billion through the issuance of demand notices (D/N) due to transfer of value and wrong classification.
Prominent among the seizures recorded by the unit within the review period are: –
222,285 X 50kg bags of foreign parboiled rice (370 tailer loads);
1,140,864 litres of premium motor spirit (33 Tankers); 16,432.30kg of Indian Hemp; 26,303 pieces of used pneumatic tyres and 11,175 bales of used clothes.
Others are 751x 70mm of live cartridges; 12,912 cartons of foreign frozen poultry products; 5,033 pieces of donkey skin
450 x 106kg drums of carbide;
233 cartons x 225mg of tramadol
7,640 cartons of expired and unapproved drugs; 303 Units of foreign used vehicles
and 104 Haojue motorcycles.
Ejibunu said 386 suspects were arrested in connection with some of the seizures while. 22 people were convicted for committing different Customs offences.
He expressed his gratitude to the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) management for their support just as he commended his officers and men for their dedication and bravery.
Ejibunu said eight officers sustained different degrees of injuries while five lost their lives in the line of duty.
He said, “My Stewardship in this great Unit unarguably enjoyed the morale and logistics support that was needed for me to succeed.
“My appreciation also goes to the management, officers and men of this Unit for their untiring support, dedication, gallantry and uncompromising posture in the fight against smuggling and revenue recovery. You worked both day and night to ensure that the successes we recorded were achieved.
“Unfortunately, while on legitimate duties within Zone’s area of operations, eight officers sustained different degrees of injuries while five lost their lives in the line of duty; may their souls rest in peace through the mercy of God (amen).
“It is appropriate at this time to once again thank members of the press for being true allies by informing and updating the public about the activities of this Unit.
“My journey of leadership of the Unit that commenced on the 10th September, 2021 till date was a bit challenging but above all, very successful. A part of the challenges encountered when I assumed duty newly was the continued rate of suspected smugglers attacks on officers while on duty.
“To mitigate such levels of attacks, the Unit embarked on sensitisation programmes and courtesy visits to traditional rulers of border communities which yielded a drastic reduction in the levels of deadly confrontations and attacks.
“I cannot hurriedly forget the cooperation of most of the traditional rulers such as the Onipokia of Ipokia Kindom, Ogun State; Oba Yisa Sola Adeniyi Adelakun Olaniyan (JP), the Alake of Egba Land, Ogun State; Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo III, and the Olu of Ilaro/Paramount Ruler of Yewa Land, Ogun State; His Royal Majesty, Oba Kehinde Gbadewole Olugbenle, who visited the Unit twice to commiserate with the officers and men over the loss of some gallant men on duty.
“Other successes recorded by the Unit under my watch include; improved suppression of smuggling by making more seizures and the arrest of suspects served as a deterrent to intending smugglers. Increased revenue recovery through meticulous documentary checks and issuance of demand notices on goods found to have underpaid. Enhanced trade facilitation by providing escorts for goods on fast track for compliant traders.”
Ejibunu expressed appreciation to compliant traders, importers and agents for their sincere declaration and for being compliant with the extant Customs procedures.
“My gratitude also goes to patriotic members of the public for providing useful and timely information that aided the success of some of our operations, ” he concluded.
Photo caption:
Outgone Controller FOU Zone A, Comptroller Hussein Ejibunu ( left) handing over the flag of leadership to his successor, Comptroller Kola Oladeji at the unit’s headquarters in Lagos on Friday.
