Comptroller-General of Customs,
Hameed Ali has requested for the files of serving Customs officers found to
have been involved in corrupt practices in the past with a view to determining
their fate over the next few days.
Hameed Ali has requested for the files of serving Customs officers found to
have been involved in corrupt practices in the past with a view to determining
their fate over the next few days.
Ali, who formally resumed duties as
the new Customs boss on Thursday last week said that President Muhammadu Buhari
gave him a three-point mandate to reform, restructure and boost Customs
revenue.
the new Customs boss on Thursday last week said that President Muhammadu Buhari
gave him a three-point mandate to reform, restructure and boost Customs
revenue.
“The mandate he has given me are
three basic things: go to Customs, reform Customs, restructure Customs and
increase the revenue generation, simple. I don’t think that is ambiguous, I
don’t think that is cumbersome. It is precise and I believe that is what all of
you are here to do,” Ali told Customs officers in Abuja on Thursday.
three basic things: go to Customs, reform Customs, restructure Customs and
increase the revenue generation, simple. I don’t think that is ambiguous, I
don’t think that is cumbersome. It is precise and I believe that is what all of
you are here to do,” Ali told Customs officers in Abuja on Thursday.
In fulfilling the mandate, PM News
gathered that Ali, over the weekend, in addition to demanding for the files of
top officers of the NCS especially those from the ranks of Comptrollers and
above, also reportedly enlisted the support of the Department for State
Security (DSS) to investigate top Customs officers especially Customs Area
Controllers, Assistant Comptroller-Generals and Deputy Comptroller-Generals to
track down their wealth and property across the country.
gathered that Ali, over the weekend, in addition to demanding for the files of
top officers of the NCS especially those from the ranks of Comptrollers and
above, also reportedly enlisted the support of the Department for State
Security (DSS) to investigate top Customs officers especially Customs Area
Controllers, Assistant Comptroller-Generals and Deputy Comptroller-Generals to
track down their wealth and property across the country.
“It goes beyond sacking them. Many
of them will forfeit illegally acquired property to government in addition to
losing their jobs. Some will also be prosecuted. It is the beginning of a new
era in Customs. It can no longer be business as usual,” a source at the
Presidency told PM News.
of them will forfeit illegally acquired property to government in addition to
losing their jobs. Some will also be prosecuted. It is the beginning of a new
era in Customs. It can no longer be business as usual,” a source at the
Presidency told PM News.
The source said President Buhari
was particularly concerned about high level of corrupt in the NCS and the
perception that “Customs is one of the most corrupt agencies in the country”.
was particularly concerned about high level of corrupt in the NCS and the
perception that “Customs is one of the most corrupt agencies in the country”.
It was also gathered that a mass
purge is imminent in the Service as part of efforts to carry out the
President’s directive.
purge is imminent in the Service as part of efforts to carry out the
President’s directive.
It was also gathered that the past
Customs Comptroller-General, Dikko Abdullahi’s tenure will be probed with a
view to recovering lost revenue.
Customs Comptroller-General, Dikko Abdullahi’s tenure will be probed with a
view to recovering lost revenue.
Ali has also reportedly directed
the implementation of zero tolerance for smuggling, underdeclaration and
Customs duty evasion.
the implementation of zero tolerance for smuggling, underdeclaration and
Customs duty evasion.
“Any importer or agent found
culpable for any gof these acts going forward will be prosecuted. No more slap
on the wrist as it used to happen in the past,” a Customs officer who did not
want his name in print told PM News.
culpable for any gof these acts going forward will be prosecuted. No more slap
on the wrist as it used to happen in the past,” a Customs officer who did not
want his name in print told PM News.
Follow Us on Facebook – @LadunLiadi; Instagram – @LadunLiadi; Twitter – @LadunLiadi; Youtube – @LadunLiadiTV for updates
