The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has expressed commitment to adhere to transparency in its financial dealings.
The Comptroller General (C-G) of the service, Adewale Adeniyi, made this known in a statement by the National Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Customs, Abdullahi Maiwada on Wednesday in Abuja.
Adeniyi said the move was aimed at ensuring efficient auditing of its accounts.
According to the C-G, the commitment followed queries raised by the Auditor-General of the federation on the 2017 audited account, over NCS’s non-submission of audited financial statements for the 2016, 2017, and 2018 financial years.
This was when the C-G and his management appeared before the House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chaired by Bamidele Salam.
Adeniyi said that NCS had been using integrated technology to collect revenue for more than 20 years, with more than 20 commercial banks involved in the process.
He explained that the service engaged the banks through a contractual agreement, which granted them access to a technology platform for the collection of payments.
According to him, the fund is remitted directly by the banks to the federation accounts.
The C-G promised to collaborate with the committee to ensure transparency and accountability in its operations.
“Compliance is something we take seriously, and we will ensure transparency if there are any grey areas that need our service to foster efficiency.
“I am happy to mention that my team and I are prepared and will, in the most transparent manner, present statements to the committee,” he said.
The C-G of Customs had on Monday at a retreat for Senior Officers in Abuja, said the service had implemented robust risk management strategies to enhance the integrity of customs processes and mitigate risks.
He said the service had taken measures that would significantly improve the efficiency of supply chains and ease conducting meticulous post-clearance audits
——–Parades Fake Comptroller General Over Recruitment Scam———
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Customs Service has arrested one Abdul-Rahman Ibrahim, in his 50s, for his involvement in fraudulent activities and impersonation of the Comptroller-General of Customs and other high-ranking government officials.
This was disclosed in a statement posted on the official X handle of the NCS on Wednesday.
According to the statement, the NCS spokesperson, CSC Abdullahi Maiwada, on Monday, revealed that the suspect’s arrest was made possible through intelligence gathered by the Customs Police Unit.
The statement partly read, “The suspect, Abdul-Rahman Ibrahim, was apprehended for his involvement in impersonating the Comptroller-General of Customs, Chief of Staff to the President, and the Secretary of the Ministry of Interior.
“According to the National PRO, the suspect has fraudulently lured numerous unsuspecting citizens to pay him money for the issuance of ‘job appointment letters,’ thereby extorting over N1 million from them.
“This arrest underscores the relentless effort of the Nigeria Customs Service in mitigating and combating criminal elements who exploit the service’s name for fraudulent activities.”
The statement added that Ibrahim confessed to his involvement in the fraudulent act and mentioned accomplices in the operation, which prompted further investigation to arrest and prosecute his accomplices.
The suspect was found in possession of counterfeit documents, including fake Customs and NSCDC appointment letters, and forged introduction letters purportedly signed by high-ranking government officials, among others.
Recall that, in June 2023, that the Lagos police arrested an alleged fake woman customs officer, Rakiya Musa, for allegedly swindling unsuspecting members of the public.
In December 2023, the management of the NCS also disclosed that there was no recruitment exercise going on in its service, and warned citizens about fake recruitment adverts posted on social media platforms.
The Customs spokesperson reiterated the Nigeria Customs Service’s commitment to upholding the law and protecting citizens from fraudulent activities, adding, “The Service remains vigilant in identifying and apprehending individuals engaged in criminal acts that are aimed at tarnishing its reputation and exploiting unsuspecting members of the public”, he said.
