NAGAFF exposes corrupt police officer at maritime command, calls for investigation

The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has exposed a corrupt police officer, with service number A/P 117542, serving at the Maritime Police Command in Lagos.

National Coordinator, 100 percent Compliance Team of NAGAFF Alhaji Tanko Ibrahim, in a statement accused the officer of engaging in corrupt activities and meddling in Customs cargo clearance operations with impunity, ignoring warnings from superior officers and sabotaging efforts to address corruption in the maritime sector.

NAGAFF called on the Inspector General of Police and Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Finance to investigate the officer’s activities and take appropriate action.

He noted that the group is also available to provide material evidence to support their claims.

Tanko said the Compliance team will in due course expose other corrupt officers from various agencies of government at the Nigerian ports.

Noting that corruption is a major obstacle to Nigeria’s greatness, Tanko said the group is committed to working with the federal government to address the issue.

“Let it be on record that NAGGAFF has the capacity to escalate corruption act against any body found to be sabotaging the efforts of the federal government of Nigeria at this critical time of depression among Nigerians.

“We look forward to Inspector General of Police reaching out to us at Nagaff hqrs 2a Maybin Street Apapa GRA Lagos. This observation is equally being forwarded to the AIG Maritime command for her information and we know that this particular officer may have received several warnings from appropriate higher authority.

“We also know that a Customs command and the Nigerian Shippers Council have severally intervened over this particular officer issuing stoppage letters to terminal operators and shipping companies on cargo at the ports.

“It is also important to note that a substantive Commissioner of police and his officers have observer status and resident at the ports and yet this particular officer A/P 117542 kept on distorting port orders and standards corruptly

“We also know that past Inspector General of Police may have issued various warnings to the police formations to stop meddling with customs statutory functions and yet this particular officer will never listen.

“It is our belief that proper investigation by IGP monitoring unit shall reveal soonest this particular officer and his activities to serve as deterrent to other corrupt officers of the Government Agencies assigned to the ports.

“Indeed as a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress, it shall be inappropriate for me to keep quiet and watch this particular officer of the Nigeria police Force sabotage our concerted effort towards making Nigeria a better place for all Nigerians to live and attain their aspirations, ” the statement said.

Tanko assured that the Compliance team of NAGAFF is committed to assist the federal government in collaboration with the Nigeria customs and the Nigeria police to ensure best practices in the customs ports and border stations of Nigeria.

“Specifically in our own sector of the economy, the Maritime trade and transportation, it is time we do the correct thing and stay out of corruption act and related negative activities.

“Let it be on record that the heads of government agencies and parasatals assigned to ports and borders have not ask it’s officers to extort money from Nigerians who come to the ports to transact businesses.

“The duty of officers are simple and straightforward to ensure full compliance to import and export regulations of the government. Indeed their various functions are clearly outlined in the extant rules and regulations guiding import and export procedures of Nigeria.

“What is left for us is to abide by the regulations and learn how to be honest in our endeavours and responsibilities.

“And for most agents of the government, it is so sad and regrettable to note the level of neglect over government interest in relation to enforcement of law and order of the society, ” he concluded.