Allegations of certificate forgery which was levelled against the Comptroller General, Nigeria Customs Service, Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko last week is already causing ripples in the Service as opposing camps trade accusations over who is behind the revelation and who is allegedly backing the man at the centre of the drama, one Mr Olajide Oyewole Ibrahim.
Appointed recently as the Comptroller General of the strategic revenue collecting agency, Alhaji Dikko is believed to be facing stiff opposition from those who believed that his elevation as unjust and a negation of due process.
He is also believed to have caused a stir following his reported moves to ensure that some categories of senior officers (mainly controllers) who have stayed on that rank for a long period were axed from the service.
Already, the service is polarised along the lines of those who were edged out and those who are now highly favoured. The two groups have been making frantic moves since last Thursday when the face-off between the Comptroller General and his accuser became public to either intensify the ‘heat’ on Dikko or douse the tension that the story has created.
The development has also made industry watchers to look in the directions of the deputy comptrollers general (DCG) who were edged out in the race to the exalted seat of Customs boss.
The embattled CG, Customs was an assistant comptroller general before his elevation and is believed to have been unduly favoured by the Presidency.
Apart from the DCGs, accusing fingers are also been pointed in the direction of senior controllers who Alhaji Dikko was reportedly working to edge out of the service.
Another insider told our correspondent last weekend that “nobody is after him “CG), he may be a victim of his past”, stressing that the fact or otherwise of the weighty allegations would be proofed by the court when the case begins next week.
A senior officer who falls within one of the categories of persons who are been fingered also sought to know from Shipping Position Weekly if the allegations were actually published.
Anxiety is heightening as stakeholders discuss the various possibilities, while some give their total support and express empathy for the Nigeria Customs Service number one man.
Although, one could openly express any opinion because the matter is already before the law court, a few of those who spoke expressed shock at the development while others see it as one of the antics that is synonymous with the Nigeria Customs Service
(Please go to page 11 for details of the Affidavit that was sworn to by Mr Olajide Oyewole Ibrahim).
(Please go to page 11 for details of the Affidavit that was sworn to by Mr Olajide Oyewole Ibrahim).
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