Connect with us

News

Customs seizes contraband, fuel worth N1.84bn in South-West

Published

on

The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has recorded a major breakthrough in its ongoing anti-smuggling operations, seizing contraband goods and petroleum products valued at over N1.84 billion, destined for smuggling into the Benin Republic.

The coordinated operation, which ran from June 3 to July 18, 2025, covered several South-Western states under Zone A jurisdiction. It led to the interception of a wide range of prohibited items and the disruption of an illegal fuel export ring. Nine suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures.

Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed these details during a press briefing at the Federal Operations Unit, FOU, Zone A headquarters in Ikeja, Lagos.

Adeniyi revealed that the FOU carried out 102 targeted enforcement operations during the six-week period, focusing on well-known smuggling flashpoints across Lagos, Ogun, and surrounding states.

Among the items seized were: 3,500 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice (equivalent to six trailer loads), 304 kg of cannabis sativa (Indian hemp), 7,900 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) stored in 316 jerry cans, 54 bags and 20 bales of used clothing, 41 sacks of used footwear, 14 used vehicles (Tokunbo), 148 used tyres, 42 gas cylinders, 31 air conditioners, and 95 cartons of frozen poultry.

The Unit also intercepted multiple misdeclared containers aimed at evading customs duties. These included: A 40-foot container (TRHU 83907321) loaded with used tyres, a 20-foot container (ONEU241369) with unregistered pharmaceutical products, two 40-foot containers (MSKU 4796036 and MAEU 9205708) containing assorted prohibited goods, a container truck carrying used refrigerators, foreign supermarket items, and second-hand clothing.

According to Adeniyi, the duty paid value of all intercepted items stood at N1.78 billion.

In a related clampdown, the Operation Whirlwind team, also operating under Zone A, intercepted a significant volume of petroleum products allegedly being smuggled into Benin Republic.

Acting on credible intelligence, operatives uncovered: 1,134 jerry cans of PMS (25–30 litres each), 33 drums of PMS, totaling 35,535 litres, six vehicles used in conveying the products.

The products were intercepted across key smuggling corridors in Ajilete, Ijoun, Ilaro, Badagry, Owode Idiroko, Eree Ado-Odo, and Obada Imeko, spanning Lagos and Ogun states. The estimated DPV for the seized fuel and vehicles was placed at N58.3 million.

In addition to physical seizures, the NCS recovered N95.6 million in unpaid duties from importers and clearing agents who attempted to evade correct duty payments through under-declaration and false documentation.

Adeniyi explained that the recoveries were made through the issuance of Demand Notices, DNs, following thorough documentation reviews and profiling exercises.

He confirmed that nine suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures. While some have been released on administrative bail, others are being transferred to appropriate security agencies for further investigation and possible prosecution.

“These arrests and high-value seizures highlight the operational precision and strategic capacity of our anti-smuggling formations,” Adeniyi stated.

“They also reflect our determination to dismantle smuggling networks and curb the activities of economic saboteurs whose actions undermine national energy security and threaten government policies,” he added.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Business

Fuel price hike: Gov Makinde announces N10,000 transport support for workers

Published

on

 

The governor of Oyo state, Seyi Makinde, has approved a N10,000 transportation allowance as a palliative for the state workforce to cushion the effects of the increase in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit, otherwise known as petrol.

The Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Oyo State chapter, Kayode Martins, in a statement released on Monday, March 23, disclosed that the governor has granted the request of the union on the issue of transportation allowance.

The statement read

“Following the intervention and formal request made by the State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) earlier this morning, the state government has approved a N10,000 transportation allowance for all workers in the state.

The newly approved allowance is set to take effect from April 2026, providing much-needed relief to workers grappling with rising transportation costs amid current economic challenges.

This development comes as a direct response to sustained advocacy by the state NLC, aimed at cushioning the impact of increased living expenses on the workforce.

Further details on implementation are expected to be communicated by the relevant government authorities in due course.”

Continue Reading

News

Former Acting Accountant-General of the Federation bags 72years imprisonment for diverting N868.46 million security funds

Published

on

 

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, March 23, convicted and sentenced Chukwunyere Nwabuoku, former acting Accountant-General of the Federation (AGoF), to a 72-year jail term without an option of fine.

DailyTrust reports that in the judgment delivered, Justice Omotosho held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had been able to prove the nine-count money laundering charge beyond reasonable doubt.

According to the judge, the defendant is hereby convicted as charged.

Justice Omotosho convicted Nwabuoku in all the nine counts and sentenced him to eight years imprisonment in each of the counts, making 72 years.

The judge, however, ordered that the counts shall run concurrently.

Justice Omotosho, who described Nwabuoku’s act of diverting funds meant for security and defence while he served as Director of Finance and Account in the Ministry of Defence as “appalling,” commended the EFCC for being detailed in its prosecution.

The judge observed that the evidence of the 9th prosecution witness that Nwabuoku voluntarily refunded part of the siphoned money of over N200 million during investigation was not controverted by the defence.

Nwabuoku served as the Director of Finance and Accounts in the Ministry of Defence between 2019 and 2021. He became acting Accountant General of the Federation in May 2022.

Continue Reading

News

11 more arrested over Ozoro “r@ping festival”

Published

on

The police in Delta state have arrested eleven more suspects over the sexu@l ass@ults recorded during what was described as a “r@ping festival” in Oramudu Quarters in Ozoro last Thursday, March 19.

In a statement released on Saturday, March 21, the spokesperson of the command, SP Bright Edafe, said the CP Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT) was tasked with conducting a detailed investigation into the incident.

Edafe said operatives of CP-SAT conducted a thorough analysis of available video evidence and intelligence, leading to the arrest of eleven additional suspects identified as Samson Atukpodo, Steven ovie, Ugbevo Samson, Afoke Akporobaro, Evidence Oguname, and six others. Edafe mentioned that these latest arrests bring the total number of suspects currently in police custody in connection with the incident to fifteen (15)

“The Command reiterates that preliminary findings indicate that the unfortunate incident was perpetrated by criminal elements who exploited the situation to engage in acts of sexu@l v!olence, which are in no way representative of any legitimate cultural practice.

The Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Aina Adesola, condemns these acts in totality and reassures the public that the Command remains resolute in its determination to ensure that all those involved are identified, arrested, and prosecuted in accordance with the law. Members of the public, particularly victims and witnesses, are once again encouraged to come forward with credible information that will aid ongoing investigations. The Command assures that all information provided will be treated with strict confidentiality.”the statement in part reads

Continue Reading

Trending