Customs refutes extortion claim by US returnee at Lagos airport
By Jeffrey Agbo
The Murtala Muhammed International Airport Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has denied allegations of extortion levelled against it by a United States returnee, Oke Adhekegba.
In a statement issued on Monday in Lagos, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Usman Abdul, stated that a full investigation has been initiated to uncover the facts surrounding the allegation.
According to the Comptroller of the Command, Effiong Harrison, the passenger arrived at the Lagos airport aboard British Airways flight BA-75 from London on Friday, May 16, 2025, landing at approximately 6:47 p.m. at Arrival Hall D of the old terminal.
Harrison explained that Adhekegba was accompanied by 10 pieces of luggage containing numerous items, including 15 pairs of footwear, 22 bottles of perfume, 12 bags and a large quantity of new clothing.
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He said the total value of the goods was estimated at ₦3,113,574, with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦1,000,004.
“These items were assessed at $1,948.15 USD upon proper valuation. Using the prevailing exchange rate of ₦1,598.22, the value in naira amounted to ₦3,113,574.00.
“In line with the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act (NCSA) 2023, the applicable charges which are Comprehensive Import Supervision Scheme (CISS) charge, Import Duty, Surcharge (SUR), ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS) Levy, and Value Added Tax (VAT) were computed, amounting to ₦1,000,004.00, which has since been duly remitted into the Federal Government’s coffers (Copy attached),” Harrison said.
He noted that the customs examination was carried out by two customs officers named Chief Superintendent of Customs (CSC) KO Adebayo and Assistant Superintendent of Customs I (ASC I) CC Ugboma.
Harrison explained that NCS was committed to professionalism, transparency and integrity,
“The MMIA Command does not condone unethical behaviour or compromise of standard operational procedures by its personnel or members of the travelling public,” he said.
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