Senator Alleges ‘Massive Corruption’ In Customs Under Hameed Ali

The Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Customs and Excise, Senator Francis Fadahunsi, has alleged massive corruption at Nigeria Customs Service under the watch of its Comptroller General, Col (retd) Hameed Ali.

Fadahunsi, who is a retired Assistant Comptroller of Customs, said this in an interview with THE WHISTLER on Tuesday.

The lawmaker called for the suspension of Col Ali the same way the Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority, Hadiza Usman, was suspended to allow unfettered investigations.

After suspension, the senator said Ali must be thoroughly investigated.

He said, “A lot of illegalities are going on in Customs under Ali. He has been hiding under Presidential directive given during former President Goodluck Jonathan that some edible goods seized should be taken to the Internally Displaced People.

“But most of these goods are being sold. He should subject it to public debate and scrutiny if he is sure what I said is not correct.”

The lawmaker also faulted the closure of Nigerian borders, saying the policy had worsened smuggling activities.

Fadahunsi said while the country was losing so much money in this regard, smuggling had contributed immensely to the worsening insecurity in the country.

He also called for the withdrawal of officers of the Nigerian Army who he said were doing the work meant for professionals to do at Customs.

He said the officers were needed more in the military now that Nigeria was struggling to bolster its fight against insurgency, banditry and other criminal activities.

Fadahunsi said further, “There is suspicion of fraud concerning staffing in NCS. Why is the personnel cost growing despite that the agency has not recruited anybody since Ali came?

“He has not recruited any worker since he came in and the personnel cost has grown to N99bn now. All these should be properly investigated.

“There are about 350 ongoing projects since 2006 and the costs have been growing and we suspect fraud in this aspect also. In 2006, Customs headquarters was awarded at the cost of N2.8bn including furnishing.

“Today, almost N20bn has been spent and it is less than 70 per cent completed. All the comptrollers general before him should also be called except Dikko that has died. Forensic auditing should be done on this one also.”

The Osun lawmaker alleged that posting in the NCS is no longer based on competence but that officers now pay heavily to be posted to where they could corruptly enrich themselves at the expense of Nigeria.