Service (NCS) to pay an importer the sum of N5.5 billion damages for seizure
and detention of 90 containers of imported rice.
This was as a result of a suit filed against the
NCS by a firm Maggpiy Trading TFZE.
Justice Inyang Ekwo in his judgment said
officials of the Customs acted without justification by law.
Justice Ekwo also held that the officials of the
Customs also pilfered the rice they had seized from the importer, while the
case was being determined.
All the reliefs sought by the plaintiff were
awarded by the court with general damages against the Customs Service.
The damages were to the tune of N3,805,638,950
and $4,796,550 against the Customs.
The Court also granted an order of perpetual
injunction stopping the defendants from unlawfully interfering with the lawful
business transaction of the plaintiff at the Tinapa Free Trade Zone.
The importer had in the suit told the court that
officials of the Customs on March 2019 invaded and sealed its warehouse at the
Tinapa Free Trade Zone.
Maggpiv also said the officials detained 40
trucks containing 317 transit containers of rice destined for the Tinapa Free
Trade Zone, 120 days along Onne, Port-Harcourt.
