BNW

B N W: Biafra Nigeria World News

Sections News Editorial/Opinion Cover Choice Arts & Life Business Politics Sports   Subscription Form Click here       Daily Independent Online.         * Monday, July 05, 2004. 68 Customs officials suspended over release of contraband goods By Rotimi Durojaiye Aviation Correspondent, Lagos An unauthorised release of 270 out 375 bales of textile materials from the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) warehouse at the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Limited (NAHCO), Ikeja, Lagos has led to the suspension of 68 Customs officials in Lagos. Sources also said at the weekend that 24 of them who are allegedly neck-deep in the scandal may be dismissed from the service. They were said to have released the textile materials said to be contraband goods to the owner after they had allegedly collected an undisclosed amount of money. Those said to be on suspension were said to be in charge of operations, cargo shed, warehouse and security. The goods were said to have been flown into the country by one of the foreign airlines from the Middle East. It was gathered that when the goods were discovered missing from the warehouse, the Customs headquarters in Abuja was contacted where two Assistant Comptrollers-General were asked to proceed to Lagos and take over the investigations. The latest development contradicts rumours making the rounds in Customs circles last week that the General Manager of NAHCO, Mr. Musa Agboneni and five other top officials of the company were arrested and detained in connection with the missing goods. Although, NAHCO management had denied the arrest and detention of any of its officials, Customs spokesman, Wale Adeniyi, insisted that there were arrests made in a telephone interview. NAHCO said in a press statement signed by Obuke Oyibotha that the cargo being referred to as missing or stolen were duly cleared and released by men of the Customs in the normal course of business.       Copyright� 2002. All Rights Reserved Independent Newspapers Limited Block5, Plot 7D, Wempco Road, Ogba, P.M.B. 21777, Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria. www.dailyindependentng.com e-mail: [email protected]

	BNW News
Voice of Biafra | Biafra World | Biafra Online | Biafra Web | MASSOB | Biafra Forum | BLM | Biafra Consortium
	© 2001 BNW BiafraNigeriaWorld  Privacy Policy ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by ACENetwork ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
	Axiom PSI Yam Festival Series, Iri Ji Nd'Igbo the Kola-Nut Series,Nigeria Masterweb