For obtaining documents under false pretence, the Customs Committee on distribution of seized items to orphanages has detained two suspects at Seme border for going about collecting documents from unsuspecting orphanages on pretence of working for the Service.
The Customs National Public Relations Officer, Deputy Comptroller Joseph Attah and other members of the Committee swiftly apprehended the suspects; a man and a woman in the act.
Speaking with journalists at Seme border yesterday when the incident took place, Attah said, "Yesterday we allocated 20, 000 bags of rice from FOU zone 'A', to orphanages within Lagos. Today, we are at Seme, in continuation of the exercise but something new has happened.
" We discovered that some unpatriotic elements, those who do not have human feelings in them have attempted to catch into this good gesture by the Federal Government, to further subjugate our people, especially the suffering Nigerians into more hardship."
He said, "We have discovered this man and a woman going about collecting documents from orphanages, pretending to be working for Customs. Their intention is clear, though there has not been any extortion yet"
"We have been able to nip this issue in the bud, as we apprehended and detained the suspects at Seme immediately".
"Let me state clearly here that the Service has Committee made up of five Comptrollers, one Deputy Comptroller, who is the National PRO of the Service, a representative of the Legal Adviser and an Assistant Comptroller, who is a representative of the Zone.
"Therefore, the Service is not using any intermediary and has not given any individual permission to collect documents from orphanages on its behalf".
He went on, "The Committee is headed by Comptroller S.Yakubu, an officer who is known for integrity".
DC Attah said Customs has so far allocated 1,235 bags of rice to five orphanages within Seme border.
Aside from rice, other items given out include vegetable oil, clothings, sugar and insecticides among others.
DC Attah, explained that the exercise was in line with the directives by the Federal Government to extend allocation of items to orphanages apart from IDPs.
Attah further disclosed that their next point of allocation will be Idiroko, in Ogun Area Command.
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