Story by Dili Utomi.
In a bid to deter smugglers from attacking people especially Customs personnel trying to carry out their legitimate duties, officials of the Nigeria Customs Service have successfully prosecuted and secured the conviction of two persons who tried to do bodily harm to its officers who were on duty.
A statement from signed by the Customs National Public Relations, Chief Supretendent of Customs, Abdullahi Maiwada on the matter reads in full:
“The Nigeria Customs Service has successfully secured the conviction of two smugglers, Felarun Oluwasegun and Fakorede Jelili, on Tuesday, February 6, 2024, in Abeokuta, Ogun State”.
Another one of the convicted criminals.
“The convictions stem from their involvement in assembling to contravene customs laws, possession of smuggled goods and assaulting Customs Officers with charms and horsewhips at Owoyele-Igbogila, Yewa-North Local Government, Ogun State in 2023”.
“Felarun and Jelili have been sentenced to 2 years imprisonment with hard labour without the option of fine by Honourable Justice Demi-Ajayi of the Federal High Court, Abeokuta”
“The Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, asserted that 11 suspects were convicted for committing offences of improper importation, assault of Customs officers, possession of Pangolin scales meant for export, among other illicit items, while some other smuggling and related cases instituted in the courts are at various stages of prosecution and would be followed up diligently”.
“Felarun Oluwasegun and Fakorede Jelili were first arraigned in Court in May 2023 on a three-count charge and have been remanded at the correctional center in Abeokuta since then until their recent conviction”.
There seems to be a breath of fresh air within the Nigeria Customs Service since the assumption of office by the current Customs CG, Adewale Adeniyi and his agency is proving to be one bright spot in a group of government agencies bedeviled with stories of corruption, ineptitude and all manners of abnormalities over the past months.
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