In the meantime, Comptroller Michael Ugbagu has assumed office as the 28th Comptroller of the Federal Operations Unit Zone C (FOUC) of the Nigeria Customs Service, Owerri. 

Comptroller Ugbagu took over from his predecessor, Comptroller Kayode Kolade in a simple ceremony in Owerri, on Friday. 

Comptroller Ugbagu thanked the Comptroller-General of Customs; Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, and his entire management team, for the trust and confidence bestowed on him to pilot the affairs of the Unit. 

He equally thanked Comptroller Kolade for his “highly commendable “ achievements while he held sway and pledged continued compliance with established guidelines while discharging his duties. 

Also Read: Customs: Shuaibu Succeeds Wada at FOU Zone ‘B’ Kaduna 

 “ We will ensure compliance with the current import and export guidelines using intelligence and technology to drive our operations. 

 “ There will be watertight security against smuggling activities across the zone. Smugglers will be discouraged, frustrated and made uncomfortable, thereby making smuggling, duty evasion and warehousing of smuggled goods unattractive within the zone.

 “ This is an onerous responsibility and I will not let the Service down“ he said. 

He called for support and cooperation from the media and the general public to enable him carry out his new assignment. 

…Assures family that justice will be served  

The Customs Area Controller of Katsina Command, Comptroller Mohammed Umar, has on behalf of the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, paid a condole visit to the family of late Customs Assistant II Auwal Haruna in his native home. Auwal Haruna tragically lost his life while on duty.

During the visit to the Kayawa community in Dutsi Local Government Area of Katsina State, Comptroller Muhammed Umar expressed his deepest sympathy to the family and members of the Kayawa community for the irreplaceable loss, recognising Auwal’s sacrifice in the line of duty.

 He emphasised that the Service lost a disciplined and well-dedicated officer.

The Area Controller assured the family of the deceased that the Service has initiated a thorough investigation to apprehend those responsible for the heinous act and would ensure justice is served.

The Chairman of Dutsi Local Government Area, Hon. Abdulrazzak Adamu, expressed gratitude on behalf of the deceased family members for the Service support during this challenging time and urged the Service to bring the culprits to book and ensure that justice is served.

The Katsina Area Command Public Relations Officer, Superintendent of Customs, Tahir Balarabe confirmed that a moment of prayer was held for the eternal peace of the fallen hero, Auwal Haruna. 

A Federal High Court in Lagos, on Monday, discharged a former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi, and one other of alleged N8.5 billion fraud.
Akpobolokemi was charged alongside a former Commander of the Joint Task Force Operation Pulo Shield, retired Maj-Gen. Emmanuel Atewe and two other staff members of the agency, Kime Engonzu and Josphine Otuaga, on 22 counts bordering on fraud.
They had each pleaded not guilty to the charges and were granted bail by the court.
Justice Ayokunle Faji discharged and acquitted Akpobolokemi and the fourth defendant (Otuaga), while ruling on a no-case submission filed by them.
The court held that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against them.
Meanwhile, Justice Faji held that the second defendant (Atewe) and third defendant (Engunzu) had a case to answer in counts 12 to 22 of the charge.
The EFCC had arraigned the defendants on a 22-count charge bordering on conspiracy, fraudulent conversion and stealing.
After they pleaded not guilty to the charges, the commission opened its case and called a total of 11 witnesses and tendered several exhibits in support of its case.
The prosecution, subsequently, closed its case.
The defendants, however, rather than open their defence filed a no-case submission before the court, on the grounds that the EFCC had not been able to link them with the alleged offences.
Delivering his ruling on the no-case submission, Justice Faji held that none of the witnesses called by the prosecution led any evidence linking the first and fourth defendants to the offences.
The court, consequently, held that having regard to the totality of evidence led by the prosecution, no prima facie case had been established against the first and fourth defendants, warranting a defence.
The court discharged the defendants but held that the second and third defenders had a case to answer and should open their defence.
The court adjourned the case until May 6 for a continuation of trial of the other defendants.
Akpobolokemi had in a no-case submission filed by his lawyers, Dr Joseph Nwobike (SAN) and Mr Collins Ogbonna, said that the prosecution had not been able to establish any case against him
In the charge, the defendants were alleged to have committed the offence in 2014 in Lagos.
They were alleged to have conspired to fraudulently convert the aggregate sum of N8.5 billion belonging to NIMASA.
The offence contravenes the provisions of sections 15 and 18 of the Money Laundering Act 2012.