Twenty-nine (29) Senior officers of the Nigeria
Customs Service have been dismissed for various acts of gross misconduct, the
service announced Thursday.
The dismissed officers are among 44 senior officers
who were punished for actions capable of compromising national economy and
security, Customs said in a statement.
Read the full statement signed by Custom’s
spokesperson, Wale Adeniyi.
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.
“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.
“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.
“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.”
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