Twenty-nine (29) Senior officers of the Nigeria Customs Service have been dismissed for various acts of gross misconduct. The dismissed officers are among forty-four (44) Senior officers who were punished for actions capable of compromising national economy and security.
Ten (10) other
officers were retired from Service, while the appointment of one (1)
was terminated. Four (4) officers were given written warnings to be of
better conduct while another 4 officers who were investigated and tried
for some offences were exonerated.
Four (4) of the
officers who got the hammer were of the rank of Deputy-Comptroller of
Customs, while five (5) were Assistant-Comptroller. Others were seven
(7) Chief Superintendents of
Customs and four (4) Superintendents, among others.
Customs and four (4) Superintendents, among others.
Comptroller-General
of Customs, Col. Hammed Ali (Rtd) had made it clear upon his assumption
of duties that the Service will not compromise on Corruption and
Indiscipline among the officers corps. In line with this, the structure
and process for investigation of offences was strengthened to handle
cases reported promptly and professionally. “We will give all officers
fair hearing in line with the principle of natural justice. We will
however insist that sanctions be punitive, not only to match the
offence committed, but to serve as deterrent to others”, the CGC
remarked at Management meeting convened to consider the report of the
Disciplinary Committee that
investigated the cases.
investigated the cases.
The process leading to the actions taken on the officers
was painstaking in line with the Public Service Rules (PSR). All the
officers were served with Queries indicating offences committed,
before they made appearances before the Special Investigation Committee. The Committee’s recommendation was discussed and approved by the Customs Management. The recommendation was thereafter referred to the Presidency for ratification, in the absence of a substantive Board for the Nigeria Customs Service. All the officers affected in the exercise have been communicated accordingly.
before they made appearances before the Special Investigation Committee. The Committee’s recommendation was discussed and approved by the Customs Management. The recommendation was thereafter referred to the Presidency for ratification, in the absence of a substantive Board for the Nigeria Customs Service. All the officers affected in the exercise have been communicated accordingly.
The Comptroller-General warned officers that punitive
sanctions will continue to be used to discipline officers who refuse to
embrace change.
Officers
affected in this exercise were investigated for involvement in improper
examination and release of containers without proper documentation and
payment of duties, illegal release of goods in advance before the
arrival of vessels, collection of bribe to release prohibited items,
release of export prohibitions, fraudulent sale of seized items, use of
fake certificates and bribery to secure auctioned goods.
Last week, seventeen (17) Junior officers were similarly dismissed
from service for offences like bribery, drug addiction, use of fake
certificates and absence from duty.
Signedfrom service for offences like bribery, drug addiction, use of fake
certificates and absence from duty.
Wale Adeniyi
Deputy Comptroller/Public Relations Officer
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