EFCC probes missing 35 containers from Tin-Can port

By Godwin Oritse
LAGOS — THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has commenced  investigation into  clearance of 35 containers  at the Tin-Can Island port that were  transferred to a bonded terminal,Clarion Bonded Terminal, in Lagos.

Already, some officers  of the Tin-Can Island Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, including the Command’s controller have been summoned to Abuja to say all they know about the  clearance of the containers.

It was gathered that the owner of the bonded terminal was arrested but  released on bail pending investigation.

Vanguard learnt that operatives of the commission were seen at the Tin-can Island Customs Command taking statements from some indicted officers.

Besides, the Comptroller General, Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi Inde, has also ordered the closure of Clarion Bonded Terminal located off the Lagos-Badagry expressway and the withdrawal of their operating licence.

A freight forwarding firm simply identified as Chiefreight,  which was alleged to have cleared the containers, has also been suspended by the Customs Service.

A senior Customs officer who pleaded anonymity, said: “the Controller is here with us, along with some of his officers, all of them are being investigated.”

Falling short of saying that the containers were taken out of the Tin Can port without payment of statutory duty, the senior officer confirmed that “they didn’t follow due process.”

An inside source at Tin Can Port Command of the Customs put the duty payable on the 35 containers at about N2.45 billion.

Sources at Tin Can Customs also fingered an executive of the Tin Can Island chapter of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agent (ANLCA) as being allegedly involved in the scam.

The executive was alleged to be closely linked with the chief executive of the freight forwarding firm; Chiefreight.

When Vanguard contacted  the executive who happens to be the vice chairman of Tin Can chapter of ANLCA; Barrister Ada Akpulonu wdenied any involvement in the scam.

According to her, the Customs has already arrested some of the people behind it.

I can never be involved in such a thing, I have name, minus my position, I have a name to protect”.

She stated  that three people have been arrested while one is on the run in connection with the fraud, even as she directed our reporter to the Ikeja; Lagos office of the importers, whose identity she gave as Ekulo  Nigeria Limited.

Speaking to Vanguard on the development, the Public Relation officer of the Tin-Can Island Customs Command Mr. Chris Osunkwo did confirm the fact some people were arrested in connection with dubious clearance of the 35 containers adding that operatives of the EFCC were in the Command for an entirely different reason.

He explained the Nigeria Customs Service has an internal mechanism to deal with such issues and the matter is being handled at the Headquarters in Abuja.

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EFCC probes missing 35 containers from Tin-Can port