• "We don't even go into the terminal to carry out any operation of our own " — Sapid
The Nigeria Customs Service, Ikorodu Command has denied being in custody of the three 40-foot containers that were allegedly vandalized while it was still at the Government Warehouse in ikorodu.
Customs Area Controller of the Command; Mr. Nasir Ahmed told journalists last week that the customs had employed a Concessionaire; Sapid Agencies Limited to assist in running the terminal including security, and that the company should be held accountable for the missing containers.
But the General Manager Operations of Sapid Agencies Limited; Mr. Francis Itsede denied this, saying that customs and not Sapid should be held responsible because the terminal was never concessioned to his company. The company argued that she was only employed by the Nigerian Customs to help in providing logistics at the terminal.
Importer of the three vandalized containers, Messers Elopetz Resources Limited had petitioned the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, demanding restitution of N100million for the vandalization of his containers.
Messers Elopetz through his lawyers, Barrister Okwudili Alagbu had told journalists that the containers were loaded with beer glass mugs and the goods which were carted away have already been spotted selling at the markets.
Presenting his argument, the Controller said that containers are transferred to the Ikorodu Lighter terminal by Nigerian Ports Authorities (NPA) and it is received by Sapid Bonded Terminal in the presence of other security agencies.
"I wouldn't know whether his (the importer) container was vandalized, he came to me that one of his containers was found to be near empty and I told him to go and meet the terminal manager, put up a report and come back to me"
"I don't know if he went to write the report, but subsequently I called the Commissioner of Police to give me plainclothes police men since the guy said the goods was already at Idumota, so this can help us in the investigation, but since then we have been waiting for the importer but he didn’t show up, that was in February 2015"
"He has forgotten that the customs he is suing is not the custodian of the cargoes, yes this is a customs terminal, but it is being run by somebody just like other terminals, we don't operate machines" the Controller stated.
He however admitted that when the containers arrived at the terminal, there were goods inside and they were examined by everybody to confirm that they were intact.
"I am aware that the container is now empty, but he refused to cooperate with us, Customs role is complementary, we have given Sapid the legal right to handle the terminal including the security"
"Sapid should be held responsible for the security of the terminal" Controller Ahmed said.
He said that the Customs headquarters have equally been notified of the case.
On his part however, the General Manager of Sapid Bonded Agencies Limited, Mr. Francis Itsede said his company only manages handling of cargoes, provide equipment, dropping, and receiving containers when they are transferred from the Apapa ports.
"We don't even go into the terminal to carry out any operation of our own without instruction from the Area Controller’s office"
"I would say customs are in charge of the security while Sapid have their own in-house security outfit, they are not armed but customs are armed and are in charge of the terminal"
"I am not aware of this case, I got to know about it the day the press came to see the Controller, he told me that he has had discussions with the owner before and that the owner refused to show up"
He explained that if an issue of theft should arise, the police should have been invited and investigation would have taken place.
"We have had several incidences where containers were moved from the port to the terminal, before we stack we would open it in the presence of the police and other agencies, most of the times the containers coming from the port are empty"
"I was in one of the examination when such a container was opened and it was empty" Itsede added.
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