Nigerian Customs Preach Against Smuggling Despite Alleged Involvement Of Officers

In an X post on Wednesday, the Nigerian Customs Service urged citizens to shun smuggling as it posed grave danger to the country. However, NCS officers have been indicted for aiding and participating in smuggling.

A West Africa Weekly report exposed unresolved service scandals involving comptrollers and top senior officers. Whistleblowers within the NCS told West Africa Weekly that Comptroller-General Bashir Adeniyi shielded Zonal Comptrollers who were exposed to be involved in smuggling, arms deals, and other criminal activities.

One of those allegedly shielded by Adeniyi is the Comptroller Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone C, Kolade Kayode. He was allowed to return to work after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested him over a staggering N11 billion found in his secret account with a new-generation bank.

The EFCC reportedly arrested Kayode in Lagos in December 2023 and detained him for one week. After that, he was granted administrative bail in the sum of N1 billion and handed over to the NCS leadership. However, Kayode was allowed to return to his office rather than prosecute him or conduct further investigations.

A recent investigative report by Fisayo Soyombo exposed the top officers of the NCS, spearheading smuggling operations and providing cover for notorious smugglers like IBD Dende. Some top officers were exposed for smuggling arms and hard drugs into the country. 

Netizens Mock Customs’ Anti-Smuggling Gospel

Nigerians have reacted to the NCS post with mockery, asking the service to purge its house of criminal elements before spreading the anti-smuggling gospel to Nigerians.

“Have you arrested IBD Dende for illegally smuggling cars and arms into Nigeria? IBD Dende also accused your bosses @CustomsNG of smuggling stuff into Nigeria. Throw your bosses into jail and also throw IBD Dende into jail, then we might consider taking you seriously,” an X-user responded.

Another commenter wrote: “The enabler of smuggling has spoken.”

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Oluwatobi Odeyinka

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