On Tuesday, officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) at the Tin-Can Island Command took a principled stance by rejecting a $54,330 bribe offered by importers of tramadol. This decisive action aligns with the zero-tolerance policy of the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, as conveyed in a press statement by the command’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Ngozi Okwara,leadership reports.
According to Okwara, Compt. Dera Nnadi, the Customs Area Controller at the Tin Can Island Command, handed over the rejected bribe money to Michael Wetkas, the Lagos Zonal Commander of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Nnadi revealed that the tramadol was falsely declared as electrical appliances valued at over N856 million in an attempt to conceal them, and the cash was offered to compromise customs officers.
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Compt. Nnadi emphasized that such actions violate Section 233 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act (NCSA) 2023. He commended the officers involved for upholding ethical and lawful conduct in the interest of national security. Nnadi called for ongoing compliance from port users and assured that the NCS, in collaboration with agencies like the EFCC, will continue to thwart criminal activities at the port.
Acknowledging the achievement under the watch of Comptroller Oloyede, who led the seizure, Nnadi praised him as a positive example within the NCS. He disclosed that the two suspects connected to the containers are currently under investigation by the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for possible prosecution.
Upon receiving the cash, EFCC’s Michael Wetkas hailed the incident as a victory for the country and all security agencies. He specifically praised the customs officers for their integrity and resistance to pressure and inducement from the owners of the illicit drugs. Wetkas expressed gratitude for the Comptroller General’s commendation letter, pledging ongoing collaboration between the EFCC, NCS, and sister agencies. He emphasized the shift towards closer collaboration, signaling the end of working in isolation among these agencies.
