By Ateed Yusuf, Abuja

A renowned Nigerian security expert has petitioned the Presidency and the National Assembly alleging that some Nigerian Customs Service personnel and policemen stationed at the borders have become smugglers of prohibited items especially petroleum products, drugs, rice and other grains.

The petitioner, Mazi Ukachukwu C.

Ukachukwu Kanu claimed in the petition that Chukan Security Solutions undercover agents made a harvest of numerous illegal activities by top officials of the Nigeria Customs Service who engage in smuggling in Benin Republic and are ready to present them as evidence against the officials.

He called for thorough probe of the activities of the customs personnel and a more constant rotation of those sent to man the borders to prevent them from misusing their offices and being influenced by corrupt local businessmen who are involved in illegal activities.

“This ugly situation has been going on there [Cotonou] unchecked for a long time now. Below are the evidence to prove that the Comptrollers of Customs at the Area Command engage in aiding and abetting smuggling and are helping big time smugglers who operate both at the sea routes and land borders.

“I am a warehouse keeping agent in Cotonou, Benin Republic. I live within an area which serves as take-off point for smugglers who want to enter Nigeria. At Seme Customs Area Command in particular, the Comptroller has five special groups of big-time smugglers who operate in his name.

“If the Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs sets-up a panel to investigate this report, I will come forward to expose all the criminal activities and lapses at Seme Area Command and Idiroko Customs Area Command, in Ogun state.

“Every week, more than 10,000 bags of rice, including several bales of unknown items suspected to be hard drugs, are smuggled into Lagos, Nigeria through the sea route unchecked.

“Few months ago, one Inspector Jimoh from Ijanikan Police Station brought two trailers loads of assorted bales of goods to my ware-house and later loaded the items into two big wooden boats and smuggled them to Ikare Sea Beach, Lagos.

“Mr. Okauru Morris used the Marine Customs boat and escorted the loaded boats from Seme Border to Ikare sea beach, Lagos State. The bales were trans-loaded into many smaller boats on the lagoon.

“The same boats loaded all the bales to Ojo water side and off-loaded them in the warehouse rented by Inspector Jimoh of Ijanikan Police Station. Mr. Okauru Morris collected N15 million Naira from the group of smugglers to clear the bales into Lagos.

“It is suspected that the contents of those bales are hard drugs, guns and ammunitions. The transaction took place at my warehouse in Benin Republic. We are ready to come forward and throw more light on this matter to curb the security lapses on the waters of Nigeria/Benin Republic.”

The petitioner further alleged that some of the customs and police officers such as Inspector Jimoh (alias Akpi Police) stationed at the Benin Republic border have overstayed after serving for more than ten years in the same location.

While pointing out that the allegations point to serious cases of corruption which requires thorough investigation, the petitioner also stated that the indicted officials illegally enriched themselves by using their positions to protect privileged smugglers from prosecution.

“We cannot fold our hands and watch unpatriotic citizens to continue to corrupt and destroy Nigeria. Our concern on this issue is that both senior Customs and Police officers should join hands in the War Against Corruption. Smugglers and their uniformed collaborators should be stopped from robbing and looting Nigeria,” he alleged.

Customs Public Relations Officer, DC Timi Bomorji, who was contacted for comments said: “We have not received the petition and we would not leave our work to start chasing after every petition or criticism against Customs.”

When shown a copy of the petition, DC. Timi Bomorji acknowledged that the allegations were very weighty but he advised the petitioner to produce sufficient evidence to back the claims before Customs can do anything.

“The details provided are not sufficient for any action. There are other ways to get the attention of Customs Management without casting aspersions on its officers.

“When people make broad allegations without concrete proof to back them up, one starts to question the original motives of the petitioners.

“There is nothing we can do at the headquarters on this matter until sufficient evidence is sent to us. We are not magicians to know what every officer is doing,” he said.

However, the Deputy Comptroller of Customs in charge of Intelligence Unit, DCP Umaru confirmed that the Customs Comptroller General‘s office has received the petition and studying the document.