From all indications, the management of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), may sue the management of Master Energy Commodities Limited, the alleged importers of the 33 containers of expired rice.
Both organisations have been engaged in media war since last week when the Customs unveiled the 33 containers of rice, which the service alleged had expired.
On its part, the importers have also accused Customs of being economical with the fact about the expiry date of the rice.
The importers, who confirmed that the containers belong to them, however said that the containers were imported in 2016 and not in 20119 as claimed by the Comptroller General of Customs, Col Hammed Ali (Rtd) last Tuesday.
But reacting to this in a statement signed by the National Public Relations Officer of the service, Deputy Controller of Customs, Mr. Joseph Attah, on Friday, the Customs accused the importer of discrediting the media briefing by the service through its lawyer.
He also disclosed that the service has commenced actions to bring the culprits to justice.
He added that: “As a responsible agency of Government, NCS will not disappoint on its mandate of enforcing compliance by maintaining zero tolerance to smuggling activities, irrespective of whoever is involved and under whatever circumstances”
“Let it be clear that NCS stands by every word spoken during the Press briefing and has already commenced action towards bringing the culprits to justice”.
Attah added that: “In their desperation to save face, their lawyer had gone to town discrediting the media briefing about the seizure of 33 containers of rice that were mostly expired and few about to expire”.
The Customs image-maker however blamed the fear of legal action that will come after the briefing as the reason the importers have started discrediting the briefing through their lawyers.
“It is obvious that their desperation to save face is hindering understanding of the fact that until an undeclared container is identified, it cannot be intercepted, therefore cannot be talked about. Why should it bother the company that NCS is informing the public about the interception of containers they did not declare? Could it be for the fear of the legal action that will follow the press briefing?”
Explaining further, he said, “It should be noted that when goods are imported but not declared, they are not yet brought to Customs attention, hence cannot exit the port unless the owners succeed in compromising Port officials and operatives to smuggle them out. This was not (or could not) be the case here”
“It was therefore the recent steeped up surveillance at all entry and exit points that led to the holistic audit of all manifests and profiling of all un-utilized Bill of Lading that led to this interception”, he concluded.
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