The Port Police Commissioner in charge of Western Ports, Celestine Okoye has accused the various commands of the Nigeria Customs Service in the western zone of frustrating police investigations, especially when the Police is working with intelligence on the importation of dangerous cargoes through the ports.
Okoye lamented the lack of cordial relationship and lack of inter-agency cooperation among security agencies working in the port.
Shipping Position Daily recalls that the Commissioner had recently stormed the Tin Can Island Port in search of a container said to be laden with imported arms through the TICT Terminal.
However, upon examination, he could only find umbrellas, police camouflage, army camouflage and customs camouflage. There were also household items, such as pillows, baby toys and female hand bags.
Speaking during a visit to his office by executives of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) last week, Okoye alleged that whenever the police is pursuing an investigation, the customs usually refuse to accord them maximum corporation.
In most cases, he said that he is usually referred to the Comptroller General of Customs, Hameed Ali, over a matter that could easily be settled at command level.
Speaking further he said “Sometimes, our security agencies tend to be polarized, sometimes we write to customs just to assist us in investigation, but they would be referring us to the CG (of Customs) to go and get clearance. Sometimes, even after seeing the evidence in the cargo, the customs would still refuse to share information; they would rather refer us to the CG. And you know that the moment you are referred to the CG, they have indirectly killed your investigation”.
“We must carry out our constitutional duties which are to investigate and when we get facts, we would prosecute, but other agencies need to cooperate with us”, he lamented.
“When I came to Apapa, I visited other agencies and asked for their corporation and for us to synergize, when agencies synergize, there would be a level playing ground, things would move well, but the customs are not helping issues” he said.
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