Customs lost millions to contractors, ghost workers
By Sammy Nwogu
The House of Representatives Committee on Customs has been told how the Customs was fleeced of several millions of naira through phony contracts, sales of houses at rock bottom pries and inflation of staff nominal roll.
An independent investigator revealed that the current probe on customs and excise by the House, alleged that the practices were perpetrated mostly during the period the newly installed Gbong Gwom Jos, Dr. Jacob Buba Gyang was the Comptroller-General of Customs.
Mr. Kayode Ishola, the manager of Business Ventures Watch in a sworn affidavit, told the probe panel that contract awarded by Gyang for the supply of two New Bell helicopters model 427 with insurance freight and other services with cost put at about 11.4million U.S. Dollars were yet to be supplied up-till date.
In the 18 paragraph affidavit at the High Court of Lagos in support of his petition, he alleged that two monitoring officers he employed, made some shocking discoveries in October, 2007 when they got information that containers of some prohibited goods suspected to be fire arms, textiles, shoes, furniture and many other items were about to be cleared and released by some customs officers at the Tin-can Island Port in Lagos against Federal Government Policy and guidelines, he said.
While investigating the customs, Messrs Metropolitan Consortium was paid N5,427,119.08 for consultancy with a staff strength of 20,000 in 2005.
However, he alleged that two Lexus model jeeps were purchased at the cost of N42,900,000 two Prado model jeeps at N26,340,000, a 100 KVA generator supplied and installed at N8,980,500 and that the sum of N480 million budgeted for and drawn for the construction of the Zaria Customs office that was not accounted for.
On the discovery of the suspected contraband goods, the petitioner claimed that the company contracted two Assistant Comptroller of customs, including an officer of the Federal Operation Unit (FOU from Zone 'A' Lagos for the discovery, who also found out that the containers were examined, cleared and released by Custom officials.
Mr. Ishola, however, called for urgent and thorough investigation into the alleged fraud and further recommended that all customs releasing officers of imported goods should not be allowed to stay more than two years in a station.
The chairman of the probe panel, Hon. Yakubu Dogara advised the management of customs to send officers that are capable of replying to allegations, than incompetent persons.
As a result Yakubu Dagara said all past Comptroller General of the service, including the new Gbonbg Gwon Jos, Dabuba Jang, Dr. Haliru Bellow, among others, have been summon to appear before the House Probe panel to answer questions bordering on their activities while in office.
