Following last week's invasion of the headquarters of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) by armed soldiers allegedly on the orders of a top customs officer, the Tin Can Island port command of the Nigeria Custom Service has debunked insinuations that recent changes at the command was a direct consequence of the invasion.
Following last week's invasion of the headquarters of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) by armed soldiers allegedly on the orders of a top customs officer, the Tin Can Island port command of the Nigeria Custom Service has debunked insinuations that recent changes at the command was a direct consequence of the invasion.
The whole drama had started last week when an officer in charge of the intelligence unit at Tin-Can Island Command, Mrs. Jane Shoboki, went in company of about 13 army officers to invade the NAGAFF headquarters in search of the association’s founder, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam. Shoboki was said to have accused the association of writing a petition against her, an action which was believed to have infuriated her.
Subsequently, Mrs Shoboki was removed as the head of the intelligence unit of the command.
However, the image maker of the command, Mr. Chris Osunkwo in a chat with Shipping Position Daily yesterday said that the case and the subsequent removal of Mrs. Shoboki are two separate developments and that they are not connected in any way.
Osunkwo explained that it was a share coincidence because according to custom laws; Assistant Comptrollers are not assigned to head the intelligence unit at command levels and that Mrs. Shoboki was just promoted to a Deputy Comptroller.
“It is a management policy that officers above the rank of Assistant Comptrollers should not head the intelligence unit at command levels, and as such ‘madams’ promotion coincided with what is on ground now, people will start looking at it as if it is in connection with the matter, but it is not so, it’s for officers above Assistant Comptrollers and ‘madam’ was promoted to Deputy Comptroller” he explained.
Osunkwo told our correspondent that the case is still under investigation and maintained that “when a matter is under investigation it is similar to a matter in court and anything you say may be seen or considered as subjudice”
He said that the allegations leveled against the senior officer, which include bribery and extortion have never been brought to his notice.
“Such allegations have not been brought to my knowledge, but the fact is that anytime you find brokers complain bitterly about officers you need to find out what really is the issue, it has been proven over time that when officers refuse to dance to agent music they call you names, they want you to play along, am not saying this is the case but it could have been” Osunkwo stressed.
However, speaking with Shipping Position Daily yesterday, National President of NAGAFF, Mr. Eugene Nweke said that the association is already negotiating with the customs on peace talks and to ensure that the matter is laid to rest.
Speaking, Eugene said that “there are peace intermediaries that are coming to settle it and of course, NAGAFF is a peaceful association, and if those that are coming as peacemakers to intervene on the issue are on ground, then we can all sit down and discuss. We give room for peace”.
Even though he refused to give the names of the peace emissaries that may be coming, he expressed optimism that the issue will be resolved, “if the peace fails, then we will go back again to the drawing board but we don’t foresee that it will fail”.
“NAGAFF has respect for every strata of government agencies and that is what we must respect and mistakes are bound to happen, but we must also acknowledge the fact to correct those mistake”
“As the national president of the association, I am an apostle of peace and I also welcome those who want peace to reign” he said
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