Customs officers may have kept back N50 million from the federal treasury, being duty on brand new Rolls Royce imported through Apapa Port and Cadillac Escalade through Tin Can Island Port (TCIP), both in Lagos.
The two vehicles were allegedly cleared as “used cars” by Customs licensed agents in connivance with Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) officers, who also allegedly concealed other items in the containers carrying the vehicles.
The deal was burst when the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) of the police was alerted to arrest the clearing agent and stop the movement of the Cadillac (2014 edition) and BMW SUV (2008).
This was based on suspicion that the required 70 per cent duty on the cars was not paid, while the Cadillac was cleared as used car.
Police officers moved to Lansal Shipping Company, which brought the vehicles, and ordered it not to release them. The clearing agent was arrested and granted bail.
But how the container was taken out of the port a few days later remains a puzzle.
Clearing agent, releasing officers
The fraud was allegedly committed between a clearing agent, Superbuilt Nigeria Limited (with office at 45 Adigu Street, Surulere, Lagos), Francis Alana and I. S. Onota, both Customs valuation and releasing officers, at TCIP and Tin Can Island Container Terminal (TICT).
In April, Customs Comptroller General, Abdullahi Dikko, had visited the office of the releasing officer at Tin Can, then occupied by Jane Shoboike, and allegedly discovered tens of millions of naira in cash stashed in the office.
Dikko reportedly demoted her to Chief Superintendent as punishment, but three weeks later, she was secretly restored to her rank and redeployed to Ikeja Training School.
Alana has since been redeployed to Abuja, allegedly to avoid being quizzed by the police.
Freight manifest
Documents obtained by TheNiche include freight manifest, shipping documents, clearing documents, and release documents.
They point to alleged fraud, connivance to defraud, and manipulation by clearing agents and Customs officers at TCIP.
Two fake addresses of the consignee – Sleek Nigeria Limited, Ajao Estate, Isolo, Lagos – led to a tip off to the SFU which stopped the truck conveying the container from leaving TCIP.
The documents showed that
• Consignment originated from Oakland, in North America and berthed at TCIP on September 11, 2014 aboard Dubai Star 797/e.
• The two SUVs were brought in a 40-foot container number ZCSU 8225019 and a bill of lading number Zimulax 097910.
• The consignee (owner of the vehicle) is Michael Emeka Uwaka, whose two addresses are simply Lekkle, Lagos and Lekki Penninsula, Abuja.
• The two SUVs are brand new vehicles because the shipping manifest did not have “used” attached to show that they had been used in the country of origin.
• The 2014 Cadillac has chasis number 132853 and BMW (001206). The BMW was allegedly used to conceal the Cadillac.
Questionable duty valuation
However, in a letter dated September 18, 2014 addressed to “the officer in charge of valuation, Nigeria Customs Service, TCIP,” the clearing agent claimed the two cars were “used”.
Alana minuted on the letter to the area project manager (APM) on September 18, 2014 that the owner of the vehicles, Cadillac and BMW, were to pay 35 per cent of their cost as duty.
He valued the Cadillac at $55,310 and the BMW at $8,300.
Security agents who suspected fraud alerted the SFU which ordered that the vehicles must not be released.
Investigation showed that the two cars were properly valued at over $200,000 as against $58,610 estimated by the Customs, which resulted in the payment of N4,461,307 on them as duty.
Hasty clearance arouses suspicion
On September 19, 2014, when duty was paid at Ecobank, the vehicles were released before the police were invited. A source said the haste with which the vehicles were released attracted suspicion.
At Apapa Port, one Cletus Uzozie Oragwa imported a 2014 “Rolls Royce Wraith” model through container number MR KU 705465/6 on September 5, 2014. The import duty was supposed to be 100 per cent.
On September 30, 2014, another container, ZCSU 702222/8, loaded with furniture, arrived Apapa on MV Pisti with voyage number 798T. It was allegedly transferred to Port Express Bonded Terminal where the owners can clear them without a thorough examination.
Customs licence for rent
Apapa Customs Area Controller (CAC), Charles Edike, authorised in a letter on Wednesday, October 8, 2014 the transfer of the container to the terminal.
Edike declined to comment when TheNiche contacted him through a text message.
NCS Public Relations Officer (TCIP), Chris Osunkwo, said he could not comment officially on the matter but expressed surprise that import duty evasion racket still goes on.
One Maxwell Ogwuamanam, who told TheNiche he is the manager of the agency, said he had no idea of the matter.
But he added that “some people without licence come to take our licence (for a fee) to do their jobs.”
Jostle for Dikko’s job
In another development, Customs officers are jostling to succeed Dikko, if President Goodluck Jonathan makes changes in the NCS because of the coming election.
Dikko has spent over five years in office.
The NCS, which retains about N100 billion yearly as statutory 7 per cent cost duty collection – allegedly donated millions to the Jonathan campaign in 2011.
There is anxiety in the top echelon of the Customs over the perception that Jonathan may retain the current management led by Dikko till after the election.
Since 1999, no CG has led the Customs for more than four years. The quantum of money at the disposal of the CG makes the office a coveted one.
Sources said pressure is being mounted on Jonathan to change Dikko, who has allegedly vowed that none of the current assistant comptrollers general (ACGs) and deputy comptrollers general (DCGs) will take over from him.
There are six DCGs, representing the country’s six zones.