N150m Tramadol bribe: League of Maritime Editors demands disclosure of Importer’s identity
… Postpones 20th Anniversary Lecture
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| File Photo |
Suspecting
half truth and outright concealment of facts on the seizure of 40 containers of
tramadol, the League of Maritime Editors and Publishers (LOMEP) weekend called
on the management of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to make public the identity
of the importer or importers who offered the sum of N150 million
bribe to the Customs for one of the containers to be
released.
half truth and outright concealment of facts on the seizure of 40 containers of
tramadol, the League of Maritime Editors and Publishers (LOMEP) weekend called
on the management of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to make public the identity
of the importer or importers who offered the sum of N150 million
bribe to the Customs for one of the containers to be
released.
Noting
that the Comptroller-General of the Service, Col. Hammed Ali(rtd) had told
newsmen that the importer had offered the sum of $280,000 bribe for one of the
containers to be released, the League said unveiling the personality was
necessary as part of the war against corruption as well as importation of
dangerous drugs that have ruined many Nigerian youths.
that the Comptroller-General of the Service, Col. Hammed Ali(rtd) had told
newsmen that the importer had offered the sum of $280,000 bribe for one of the
containers to be released, the League said unveiling the personality was
necessary as part of the war against corruption as well as importation of
dangerous drugs that have ruined many Nigerian youths.
Besides,
the League said such disclosure will put paid to speculations going round in
the ports industry that the claim by the Customs that an importer offered
the money displayed during the press briefing in Apapa was in doubt.
the League said such disclosure will put paid to speculations going round in
the ports industry that the claim by the Customs that an importer offered
the money displayed during the press briefing in Apapa was in doubt.
Speculations
have been that the so-called bribe money was simply a make-up
or contributions of some customs officers in the port system for image
redemption purposes.
have been that the so-called bribe money was simply a make-up
or contributions of some customs officers in the port system for image
redemption purposes.
In
a statement signed by the President, Mr. Kingsley Anaroke and the Secretary
General, Mr. Francis Ugwoke, the League argued that the only way the Customs
management would convince Nigerians that an importer was actually the one who
offered the money in cash is to unveil his identity.
a statement signed by the President, Mr. Kingsley Anaroke and the Secretary
General, Mr. Francis Ugwoke, the League argued that the only way the Customs
management would convince Nigerians that an importer was actually the one who
offered the money in cash is to unveil his identity.
The
statement reads:, “We see no reason why the identity of the importer should
be kept secret. It should be made public as a deterrent to others wishing
to do the same thing in future. By exposing the culprits, such
action will further check importation of such dangerous goods into the country
as the importer knows the implication.
statement reads:, “We see no reason why the identity of the importer should
be kept secret. It should be made public as a deterrent to others wishing
to do the same thing in future. By exposing the culprits, such
action will further check importation of such dangerous goods into the country
as the importer knows the implication.
“It
is pertinent to request the Customs management to institute an
independent inquiry into the issue of corruption in the ports and
border posts involving resident customs officers in which the nation has
continued to suffer billions of Naira revenue loss that go to private
pockets.
is pertinent to request the Customs management to institute an
independent inquiry into the issue of corruption in the ports and
border posts involving resident customs officers in which the nation has
continued to suffer billions of Naira revenue loss that go to private
pockets.
“We
also would like the CG to find out why some officers who were arrested over
their indictment in the seized tramadol have been threatening to expose others
involved in the scam if not treated well.
also would like the CG to find out why some officers who were arrested over
their indictment in the seized tramadol have been threatening to expose others
involved in the scam if not treated well.
“We
want the Customs management to ensure that nothing happens to these
officers as they could be target with their threat to expose wrong doings
in the system”.
want the Customs management to ensure that nothing happens to these
officers as they could be target with their threat to expose wrong doings
in the system”.
Recall
that the Customs had recently seized 40 containers of tramadol
drugs with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N7,318,978,065.00.
that the Customs had recently seized 40 containers of tramadol
drugs with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N7,318,978,065.00.
The CG revealed that three suspects,
among them customs officers and two others that cleared the
products were arrested in connection with the
seizures.
among them customs officers and two others that cleared the
products were arrested in connection with the
seizures.
Ali disclosed that the
importers of the items had offered a whooping sum of N150 million just for
one container to be released to them, an offer he said was rejected.
importers of the items had offered a whooping sum of N150 million just for
one container to be released to them, an offer he said was rejected.
Incidentally, the Customs management has
kept secret the identity of the importer or importers involved in the
importation of the goods into the country.
kept secret the identity of the importer or importers involved in the
importation of the goods into the country.
Meanwhile, the 20th Anniversary
Lecture, Awards and inauguration of Patrons and Executives of the League of
Maritime Editors and Publishers (LOMEP) earlier scheduled to hold on Thursday,
29 November, 2018 has been shifted to Thursday, 24th January,
2019.
Lecture, Awards and inauguration of Patrons and Executives of the League of
Maritime Editors and Publishers (LOMEP) earlier scheduled to hold on Thursday,
29 November, 2018 has been shifted to Thursday, 24th January,
2019.
The event billed to take place at Sheraton
Hotels, Ikeja, Lagos, will feature the recognition of deserving maritime
industry leaders and reform agents as patrons and awardees.
Hotels, Ikeja, Lagos, will feature the recognition of deserving maritime
industry leaders and reform agents as patrons and awardees.
While the Minister of Transportation,
Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, who is the Chief Guest of Honour, is billed to give the
keynote address,the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer(CEO)of the
Nigerian Shippers’ Council(NSC), Barr. Hassan Bello, who is the Guest Speaker,
will deliver the lecture on the topic: “Indigenous Fleet Development, What Options?”
Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, who is the Chief Guest of Honour, is billed to give the
keynote address,the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer(CEO)of the
Nigerian Shippers’ Council(NSC), Barr. Hassan Bello, who is the Guest Speaker,
will deliver the lecture on the topic: “Indigenous Fleet Development, What Options?”
Some of the
agencies and firm to be recognized under the corporate award category include:
Nigerian Ports Authority(NPA) which got an award for “ Transparency and
Infrastructural Development in Nigerian Ports”; Nigerian Shippers’ Council(NSC)
, an award for “ Port Economic Regulations in Nigeria”; Sifax Group,
an award as “Outstanding Indigenous Terminal Operator in Nigeria.”
agencies and firm to be recognized under the corporate award category include:
Nigerian Ports Authority(NPA) which got an award for “ Transparency and
Infrastructural Development in Nigerian Ports”; Nigerian Shippers’ Council(NSC)
, an award for “ Port Economic Regulations in Nigeria”; Sifax Group,
an award as “Outstanding Indigenous Terminal Operator in Nigeria.”
The founder
of the National Association of Government Approved Freight
Forwarders(NAGAFF), Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, was nominated for award
under the individual award category for “ Promotion of Capacity
Building in Freight Forwarding Industry in Nigeria.”
of the National Association of Government Approved Freight
Forwarders(NAGAFF), Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, was nominated for award
under the individual award category for “ Promotion of Capacity
Building in Freight Forwarding Industry in Nigeria.”
Also listed in the
individual award category is former National President of the Association of
Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents(ANLCA), Prince Olayiwola
Shittu, who is being recognized for “ Innovation in Customs Brokerage in
Nigeria.”
individual award category is former National President of the Association of
Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents(ANLCA), Prince Olayiwola
Shittu, who is being recognized for “ Innovation in Customs Brokerage in
Nigeria.”
Among
the special guests of honour are: Director- General of the Nigerian
Maritime Administration and Safety Agency(NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, the
Managing Director of National Inland Waterways Authority(NIWA),
Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora, Governing Council Chairman of Council
for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria(CRFFN), Col. Tsanni
Abubakar(rtd).
the special guests of honour are: Director- General of the Nigerian
Maritime Administration and Safety Agency(NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, the
Managing Director of National Inland Waterways Authority(NIWA),
Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora, Governing Council Chairman of Council
for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria(CRFFN), Col. Tsanni
Abubakar(rtd).
