Billions of Naira Fraud Allegation Against Customs Officers: Matters Arising
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By Francis Ugwoke
Over the decades, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has been a cynosure of all eyes. It has as well suffered poor image. And the reasons are indeed obvious. Different allegations of corruption have been labelled against some of its officers. Yes, there could be ‘bad eggs’, just as much as there are ‘good eggs’. As it is often said, in every 12 there must be Judas. So, the Customs Service cannot be without some bad eggs. Common allegations against unscrupulous officers revolve around connivance with some importers in trade crimes. Some of them are usually accused of accepting settlements from importers in cases of under-declaration, outright concealment or under-valuation. Claims are that where an importer who faces such allegations is supposed to pay N2m under-payment, this could be negotiated so that the importer greases the palms of the officers and pays less. In this, both sides are culpable of trade crime. However, often times, it is not celebration for both sides, including the importers and the officers involved. They could face bottlenecks after such deals as they are again confronted by other operatives of the Customs who carry out checks on what was cleared at the ports. The policemen of the system are the Federal Operations Units (FOUs). In many cases, the operatives discover some under-payments which they recover for the government. This is what the Service has introduced as checks and balances over the decades to ensure that the revenue of the government is not lost. To a large extent, this has often created issues between officers in the ports and those of the FOUs who are in different parts of the country. Apart from the FOUs, the Service had in place Comptroller General’s Strike Force (CG Strike Force) which also monitor what happens at both the seaports, airports and border stations. Under the administration of late Inde Dikko and Rtd Col. Hammed Ali as CGs, there was the CG Strike Force working separately with the FOUs. The present administration of Bashir Adewale Adeniyi had in response to complaints against the CG Strike Force as a duplication of other units had to disband it. This decision was applauded by importers and freight forwarders. But what is of note is that resident officers of the Customs at the ports and border stations have always been bitter when FOUs operatives intercept goods earlier cleared and okayed by them and collect whatever is underpayment. Such revenue generations collected with the issuance of Debit Note (DN) are always declared almost on monthly basis and run into millions of Naira. In effect, the revenue would have been lost if not for the checks on the resident officers examining and releasing goods at the ports and border stations. In such cases, the officers are disciplined by the Customs management, a development that leads to bad records with its negative implications.
However, in responding to poor image regarding corruption by some officers, most Comptroller Generals on being appointed into office come up with policy statements to fight corruption. The immediate former CG, Ali, was clearly known for this. On assuming office he had declared that officers who are caught on the act would be dismissed. As a matter of fact, in October 2022, the former CG of Customs, Ali disclosed that his administration laid off as well as prosecuted over 2,000 officers. The officers were accused of having compromised customs system in seven years.
Ali who claimed to have introduced zero tolerance in the system had explained that it was not enough to sack corrupt officers but also to force them to face the wrath of the law. He disclosed that many of those sacked were “found to be shortchanging the Service in its revenue drive”. Ali also disclosed that importers engaged in sharp practices were not been left out as they have been prosecuted.
On assuming office, the present CG, Adeniyi, has been steadfast in giving a new direction to the Service. To industry stakeholders, Adeniyi has brought professionalism to bear in the Service. In this regard, he has kept officers on their toes in terms of living up to expectations. On assuming office, Adeniyi had promised to dismantle obstacles, foster new culture in trade facilitation. He also assured of prioritizing efficiency in service delivery so that the government does not lose any revenue. Stakeholders, including freight forwarders have said that his tenure has brought to an end the era of godfatherism and enthroned professionalism.
When EFCC Fingers Officers?
Sometimes last week, the Customs Service was in the news with allegations levelled against some of its officers. Reports had it that some people had petitioned the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) over allegations that some of its officers were involved in unclean deals running into billions of Naira. Specifically, one of the controllers (names withheld) was alleged to have warehoused about N9bn. He was said to have been invited for questioning by the EFCC. He was not alone as other officers of the Service were also named in similar allegations of corruption and invited by the EFCC according to reports. But the allegation has since led to questions being raised by observers as to the truth and who want the officers axed. Those close to the officers being accused have raised concerns that they may simply be victims of envy by interest group working hard to take their positions. One of the questions that has been raised is: how possible would it be for a serving customs comptroller to amass so much wealth to the tune of N9bn uncaught and still want to remain in office. Industry watchers are quick to conclude that the allegations may either be part of the usual internal wrangling (office politics) among customs officers or even by smugglers whose billions of Naira worth of goods have been seized by customs operatives. One of the two could be possible. Either some envious officers are desperate to get these officers out of the way for holding important positions or the smugglers are at work. As it is often said, corruption also fights back. To industry observers, it is then left for operatives of the EFCC, DSS and any other agency involved in the matter to do a good job of unearthing the truth so that innocent officers do not suffer over allegations of crime they never committed. The FOUs as at last year seized goods worth about N16billion from smugglers. This was enough for the smugglers to wage war against some customs officers responsible for their losses. Yet, one cannot rule out the possibility of envy leading to fighting dirty.
Over the decades, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has been a cynosure of all eyes. It has as well suffered poor image. And the reasons are indeed obvious. Different allegations of corruption have been labelled against some of its officers. Yes, there could be ‘bad eggs’, just as much as there are ‘good eggs’. As it is often said, in every 12 there must be Judas. So, the Customs Service cannot be without some bad eggs. Common allegations against unscrupulous officers revolve around connivance with some importers in trade crimes. Some of them are usually accused of accepting settlements from importers in cases of under-declaration, outright concealment or under-valuation. Claims are that where an importer who faces such allegations is supposed to pay N2m under-payment, this could be negotiated so that the importer greases the palms of the officers and pays less. In this, both sides are culpable of trade crime. However, often times, it is not celebration for both sides, including the importers and the officers involved. They could face bottlenecks after such deals as they are again confronted by other operatives of the Customs who carry out checks on what was cleared at the ports. The policemen of the system are the Federal Operations Units (FOUs). In many cases, the operatives discover some under-payments which they recover for the government. This is what the Service has introduced as checks and balances over the decades to ensure that the revenue of the government is not lost. To a large extent, this has often created issues between officers in the ports and those of the FOUs who are in different parts of the country. Apart from the FOUs, the Service had in place Comptroller General’s Strike Force (CG Strike Force) which also monitor what happens at both the seaports, airports and border stations. Under the administration of late Inde Dikko and Rtd Col. Hammed Ali as CGs, there was the CG Strike Force working separately with the FOUs. The present administration of Bashir Adewale Adeniyi had in response to complaints against the CG Strike Force as a duplication of other units had to disband it. This decision was applauded by importers and freight forwarders. But what is of note is that resident officers of the Customs at the ports and border stations have always been bitter when FOUs operatives intercept goods earlier cleared and okayed by them and collect whatever is underpayment. Such revenue generations collected with the issuance of Debit Note (DN) are always declared almost on monthly basis and run into millions of Naira. In effect, the revenue would have been lost if not for the checks on the resident officers examining and releasing goods at the ports and border stations. In such cases, the officers are disciplined by the Customs management, a development that leads to bad records with its negative implications.
However, in responding to poor image regarding corruption by some officers, most Comptroller Generals on being appointed into office come up with policy statements to fight corruption. The immediate former CG, Ali, was clearly known for this. On assuming office he had declared that officers who are caught on the act would be dismissed. As a matter of fact, in October 2022, the former CG of Customs, Ali disclosed that his administration laid off as well as prosecuted over 2,000 officers. The officers were accused of having compromised customs system in seven years.
Ali who claimed to have introduced zero tolerance in the system had explained that it was not enough to sack corrupt officers but also to force them to face the wrath of the law. He disclosed that many of those sacked were “found to be shortchanging the Service in its revenue drive”. Ali also disclosed that importers engaged in sharp practices were not been left out as they have been prosecuted.
On assuming office, the present CG, Adeniyi, has been steadfast in giving a new direction to the Service. To industry stakeholders, Adeniyi has brought professionalism to bear in the Service. In this regard, he has kept officers on their toes in terms of living up to expectations. On assuming office, Adeniyi had promised to dismantle obstacles, foster new culture in trade facilitation. He also assured of prioritizing efficiency in service delivery so that the government does not lose any revenue. Stakeholders, including freight forwarders have said that his tenure has brought to an end the era of godfatherism and enthroned professionalism.
When EFCC Fingers Officers?
Sometimes last week, the Customs Service was in the news with allegations levelled against some of its officers. Reports had it that some people had petitioned the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) over allegations that some of its officers were involved in unclean deals running into billions of Naira. Specifically, one of the controllers (names withheld) was alleged to have warehoused about N9bn. He was said to have been invited for questioning by the EFCC. He was not alone as other officers of the Service were also named in similar allegations of corruption and invited by the EFCC according to reports. But the allegation has since led to questions being raised by observers as to the truth and who want the officers axed. Those close to the officers being accused have raised concerns that they may simply be victims of envy by interest group working hard to take their positions. One of the questions that has been raised is: how possible would it be for a serving customs comptroller to amass so much wealth to the tune of N9bn uncaught and still want to remain in office. Industry watchers are quick to conclude that the allegations may either be part of the usual internal wrangling (office politics) among customs officers or even by smugglers whose billions of Naira worth of goods have been seized by customs operatives. One of the two could be possible. Either some envious officers are desperate to get these officers out of the way for holding important positions or the smugglers are at work. As it is often said, corruption also fights back. To industry observers, it is then left for operatives of the EFCC, DSS and any other agency involved in the matter to do a good job of unearthing the truth so that innocent officers do not suffer over allegations of crime they never committed. The FOUs as at last year seized goods worth about N16billion from smugglers. This was enough for the smugglers to wage war against some customs officers responsible for their losses. Yet, one cannot rule out the possibility of envy leading to fighting dirty.
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