- As Ex-Rivers REC, 99 others are to face trial over N23.29b ‘bribe’
Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Zonal Coordinator in Lagos, Assistant Comptroller General (ACG) Charles Edike has organized a comprehensive enlightenment seminar for the Chinese business community in Nigeria, following reports of their alleged infractions on the nation’s laws guiding exports and imports.
The exercise whose aim was to enhance the already existing bilateral trade agreement between Nigeria and the Republic of China, as well as ensure that trade facilitation run smoothly, avoid delays and achieve reduced cost of doing business, took place at the Chinese Embassy, Lagos.
Charles Edike
“Whether these acts by the Chinese are out of ignorance or criminal tendencies, the need to educate them become more important at a time like this when everything is being done to fast track trade, improve revenue and eliminate delays from the ports”, intimated Edike, highlighting that the seminar which held on the approval of the Comptroller General, Hameed Ali was in furtherance of Ali’s commitment to boosting trade facilitation.
“We believe if they do the right thing, the Nigeria and China economies will benefit immensely”, Edike stated further, affirming that there were indeed unconfirmed reports that some Chinese citizens were seen in Nigeria forests cutting trees for export, repackaging Nigerian made products for export, as well as being involved in acts of Piracy.
“Doing the right things consistently pays and saves such importer a lot of time and cost. Do not be deceived by anybody. The laws are sacrosanct.
Customs PRO and Image Maker, Wale Adeniyi
“The guidelines are very clear. If you are not clear, contact the nearest Customs command and you will be guided”, he also said, stressing that there must be no excuses because none will be tolerated.
He told the participants that the Nigeria Custom Service, in this era is fully committed to implementing government economic policies and enforcing the Laws/Regulations guiding trade,; even as he re-emphasized that every kobo from revenue will be collected for government.
“The Nigeria Customs will not renege on revenue collection. We will collect every kobo that government is entitled to collect from exports and imports. We shall not collect more nor less. This is why we are here to let you know the laws and processes. There must be no excuses because none will be tolerated, please be guided, the Zonal coordinator stressed.
Edike also noted that apart from these, there were several cases of misconduct involving the Chinese as well as other nationals in Nigeria which the CGC was not happy about, hence the CGC’s approval of the training, to enable the Chinese people to address such developments and let them know the laws.
Speaking at the training session, the Chinese Consul General, Chao Xiaoliang stated that the training was needed to guide Chinese traders who were into export/import business either solo or in partnership with Nigerians to avoid being misled into illegal businesses.
It would be recalled that the Service generated N95, 760,763,642.04 in August 2016, which incidentally is so far, the highest revenue in 10 years despite Forex difficulty, low imports and general economic meltdown globally.
According to Edike, the feat became achievable following dogged adherence to reform and restructuring efforts put in place by the CGC.
In the meantime, about 100 Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials are likely to face trial for indictment in the N23.29b bribe during the 2015 elections.
They will face internal disciplinary action before being handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for prosecution, The Nation learnt.
EFCC Chairman Ibrahim Magu and INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu are to meet on the interim report on the scandal.
The report, The Nation learnt, indicts two Resident Electoral Commissioners – Gesil Khan, Mr. Slyvester Ezeani – 16 directors and 82 others.
Some of those indicted have refunded money and a few others have their assets confiscated by EFCC.
A source in the EFCC, who spoke in confidence, said: “We are set for the trial of the indicted INEC officials. We are making the interim report of our investigation available to INEC any moment from now.
“We have a major challenge in INEC. The electoral commission said its rules and regulations do not allow it to hand over the indicted officers to the EFCC for prosecution.
“It said once a report is filed by the anti-graft commission, the INEC management will invoke internal disciplinary mechanism since the allegations are on election matters. After the disciplinary action, the EFCC can arraign them in court.
“We are trying to follow due process as much as possible. So far, INEC has cooperated in releasing all those invited for questioning.
“Once the EFCC and INEC chairmen meet in the next few days, we will then know where we are going.”
A National Commissioner, who spoke in confidence, said: “We are awaiting the report of the EFCC and when we get it, we will subject the affected officials to our internal process. We are operating in a democratic environment and we have to observe due process in whatever we are doing.
“So far, we have lived up to expectations in handing over any INEC officials implicated to EFCC for interrogation, we have not shielded anybody no matter how highly placed.
“We have also taken pre-emptive steps to check these 100 employees. We have exempted them from sensitive operations of the commission pending the conclusion of investigation and the outcome of their trial if any.
The EFCC has been probing the embattled former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, on her alleged involvement in a $115m (N23, 299,705,000billion) 2015 poll bribery scandal.
About four oil firms, 14 directors of oil companies, two banks and some politicians are under probe.
Some INEC officials already grilled are REC Gesil Khan for allegedly collecting N185, 842,000 out of a N681million bribe; Fidelia Omoile( Electoral Officer in Isoko-South Local Government Area of Delta State)—N112,480,000 ; Uluochi Obi Brown( INEC’s Administrative Secretary in Delta State)—N111,500,000; a former Deputy Director of INEC in Cross River state, Edem Okon Effanga—N241,127,000 and the Head of Voter Education in INEC in Akwa Ibom, Immaculata Asuquo—N214,127,000.
Also, a retired INEC official, Sani Isa, was grilled over alleged N 406,206,000 bribe allegedly collected on behalf of the deceased Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Kano State, Alhaji Mukaila Abdullahi.
Those grilled in Gombe are: Godwin Maiyaki Gambo Balanga, Bukar Alone Benisheik, Dukku, Jibril. B. Muhammed,Billiri, Dunguma Musa Dogona, Funakaye, Mohammed. A. Wanka, Kaltungo, Ishaku Yusuf, Kwami, Suleiman Isawa, Nafada, Babagana Malami, Shongom, and Nuhu Samuel, Y/Deba.
Additional report from Nation