An importer; Messrs Elopetz Resources Limited has accused the Nigeria Customs Service of conniving with miscreants popularly called ‘wharf rats’ to vandalize and cart away contents of three 40- foot containers valued at about N100million at the Ikorodu Terminal in Lagos.
The containers with number: TRLU8190033, TCLU5464240 and TGHU8550660 which were said to be laden with customized glass beer mugs were undergoing overtime clearing at the terminal before they were allegedly vandalized, unstuffed and goods stolen.
An importer; Messrs Elopetz Resources Limited has accused the Nigeria Customs Service of conniving with miscreants popularly called ‘wharf rats’ to vandalize and cart away contents of three 40- foot containers valued at about N100million at the Ikorodu Terminal in Lagos.
The containers with number: TRLU8190033, TCLU5464240 and TGHU8550660 which were said to be laden with customized glass beer mugs were undergoing overtime clearing at the terminal before they were allegedly vandalized, unstuffed and goods stolen.
In a demand notice written to the Comptroller General of Customs, Alhaji Dikko Inde Abdullahi by Counsel to the importer, Barrister Okwudili Alagbu, a copy of which was made available to Shipping Position Daily, Messers Elopetz Resources Limited has demanded a restitution of N100million as the NET value of the containers.
Speaking with journalists in Lagos last week, Barrister Alagbu claimed that the containers had successfully and satisfactorily undergone customs formalities at the Ports and Cargo Terminal at the Tin Can Port before it was transferred to Ikorodu.
However according to him, his importer was faced with the challenges of handling the demurrage from the shipping company and the terminal operator and this necessitated the transfer of the containers to the government warehouse at Ikorodu terminal as overtime cargo.
He said that after the completion of the overtime clearing formalities, the Customs Controller at Ikorodu had delayed the removal of the cargo for four months under the pretense of confirmation of duty payments.
"On the opening of the containers, our client was able to confirm to her utmost disappointment that all three containers were virtually empty, thus confirming her age long fears that there was something sinister about the unusual insistence as well as unusual delay in confirmation of customs duty payment on the containers"
"The containers arrived Ikorodu with the content intact, they were re-examined by customs and confirmed intact, the goods were returned to the stacks in the presence of our client, and there is a round the clock security service within the government warehouse terminal at Ikorodu"
"So how did the supposed 'outsider thief' manage to bring down the three containers from the stacks, apparently with the use of cranes, broke in and stole their contents, locked and returned the near-empty container to the stacks without being caught?" Okwudili stated.
He described the Ikorodu terminal as a leaking port that poses a security threat to the country at large. According to him, had the content of the containers been arms and ammunitions, this is the same way they would been vandalized.
Barrister Alagbu also alleged clandestine moves by the Controller of Ikorodu and his Tin Can Island counterpart of attempts to have the three containers gazetted and auctioned in order to cover up the shame the incidence brings to the image of the Nigerian Customs Service.
When Shipping Position Daily contacted the Ikorodu Command of the Nigeria Customs Service on Tuesday, the image maker, Mr. Oloyede Ahmed told our correspondent that the customs is aware of the situation and that in due course, it would be tackled by the area controller.
"Yes, we are aware of the case, I have contacted my area controller and he is going to address the issue, however it is, I will get back to you” Oloyede stated.
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