Bribery scandal rocks Customs, 12 suspended

Twelve senior officers of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, have been suspended for extorting $13, 000 (N2.73m) from passengers as well as releasing seized consignments
Also being disciplined are 11 other senior officers, who are currently being investigated by disciplinary panels set up by the Comptroller General of Customs, Abdullahi Dikko, bringing to 23, the number of erring officers.
Public Relations Officer of the Service, Wale Adeniyi, a Deputy Comptroller, who made the disclosure yesterday, said three of the suspended officers are of the rank of Assistant Superintendent, serving at the Currency Declaration desk of the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja.
They were implicated in a case of extorting $13, 000 from a passenger during the outward clearance of an Emirates Airline flight.
Five of the affected officers, who are of the rank of Assistant Comptrollers at the Tin Can Island Port command, were suspended from office pending the outcome of the panel set up to investigate allegation of improper release of seized consignments leveled against them.
Adeniyi said further that two other officers, who are also of the rank of Assistant Superintendent, serving at the Seme Border Command were suspended for alleged rape, an offence said to have been committed in Badagry area of Lagos State recently.
The disciplinary measures were also meted on middle level management officers serving in the various ports formations for one form of offence or the other.
Investigations also showed that another set of five officers, including a Deputy Comptroller posted to Apapa Port Command have appeared before an investigative panel for offences ranging from negligence to improper examination of containers, among others
The remaining six officers were also made to appear before the disciplinary panel for offences ranging from hacking of passwords, falsification of academic certificates, negligence and general indiscipline.
The Comptroller General, who reacted to the increasing cases of indiscipline, warned that the Service will stop at nothing in checkmating officers and men from operating illegal check points.
While admitting that his office has been awash with complaints over the setting of illegal checkpoints on some routes, particularly around Kogi, Ondo and Edo states, the Comptroller General however assured that special unit would be set up to conduct surveillance operations to apprehend culprits.
He also warned that officers operating such illegal check points will be severely punished.
The Customs boss expressed regrets over the involvement of young officers recently recruited into the Service in various illegal acts, which he said is worrisome.
He further warned that the Service will not tolerate such officers, disclosing that the required machinery were being strengthened, designed to arrest and punish the erring officers and men.