Nigeria Customs To Grill 12 Officers Allegedly Involved In Petrol Smuggling

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has summoned 12 personnel to its headquarters in Abuja for interrogation over their alleged role in the smuggling of refined petroleum products, especially the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise called petrol, to Cameroon, Chad, Niger Republic and other African countries.

According to the letter dated June 8, obtained by SaharaReporters and titled, “Invitation to report at Customs Police Headquarters” the NCS said, “Sequel to an ongoing investigation directed by the CGC, the under-listed officers are requested to report at the CPU Headquarters on the 13th of June by 1100hours unfailingly.”

The summoned officers are; CSC G Almu, DSC GI Kadiri, ASC 1 UT Abdulhamid, ASC 1 HO Ibraheem, ASC 1 AI Hassan, ASC 11 S Magaji, ASC 11 Bashir I, IC Jalo A (OPS), AIC Usman H, AIC Igbo VP, AIC Ikpeme GM, AIC Garba S, AIC Nwumfe F, and CA Ismaila A.

The letter was signed by BS Sani, for the NCS CC, Police.

INVITATION TO REPORT AT CUSTOMS POLICE HEADQUARTERS

SaharaReporters had last year reported that Segun John Owombo, a Superintendent of Customs (SC) in a video, exposed that some of the NCS personnel together with smugglers stole the country’s refined petrol to neighbouring countries.

SaharaReporters had also reported that Owombo was arrested after releasing the video in which he narrated how the smugglers at the Malabo Checkpoint on Belel Road, Adamawa State, were freed by his superiors.

In November, SaharaReporters reported how Owombo was transported to Abuja from Adamawa State to meet with the Comptroller General of Customs while in detention.
SaharaReporters had also reported that Owombo was set to undergo certain tests while in detention.

On the latest development about the 12 personnel being summoned to Abuja, Owombo who is still in detention in Abuja made another video.

Speaking in Yoruba in the video on Saturday, Owombo said, “All the officers at the Checkpoint have been summoned to report to Abuja. As they are going to Abuja, I want all Nigerians to watch out because their escapades one by one will be exposed – particularly, Controller Jalo and one Garba. There is also an OC Liaison, Adamu, he threatened to kill me with a gun; his name is not on the list, but he is also involved.

“I have evidence against all of them. And I am ready to expose them. All Nigerian clerics, please pray for me. Nigeria will be great again. I appreciate my Comptroller-General of Nigerian Customs Service, Col Hammed Ali (retd.).”

SaharaReporters had in April reported that Owombo spent five months in detention.

Owombo was being detained by the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) despite medical documents indicating that he was suffering from kidney disease.

In November, SaharaReporters reported how Owombo was transported to Abuja from Adamawa State to meet with the Comptroller General of Customs while in detention.

SaharaReporters had also reported that Owombo was set to undergo certain tests while in detention.

According to the results of psychiatric test performed at Karu General Hospital in Abuja and obtained by SaharaReporters, history, mental status examination and physical examination carried out at presentation revealed the custom official has no obvious abnormalities.

“The above named is a staff of your organization who presented in the company of his colleague in our facility on the 6th December, 2022 for Psychological Assessment on account of undue suspicion of his colleagues,” the report addressed to the Comptroller General of Custom read.

“History, Mental Status Examination and Physical Examination carried out at presentation revealed no obvious abnormalities, however the Psychological Test administer on him which includes Symptom Checklist - SCL90 and Eyensick Personality-EPQ revealed Paranoid Ideation, Interpersonal Sensitivity and Obsessive Compulsive thought based on his scare in the symptom checklist.

“He is therefore recommended for both Medical treatment and Psychological intervention.”

Sahara Reporters