Corruption, threat to democracy –Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has identified corruption as the worst threat to Nigeria’s democracy, noting that the task of nation building rests primarily on the political elite.  Buhari pointed out that leaders of advanced democracies have conquered the urge for primitive acquisition of wealth and have rather settled for service.

The president, who spoke through his deputy, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo when he declared open the maiden annual political summit in Abuja, charged participants at the summit to evolve a moral elite that is prepared to make sacrifices and serve above self, adding that what Nigeria needed at the moment was leadership with ethical compass.

“Democracy cannot heal the terrible human defect if politicians demand and take bribe, steal the money meant to provide drugs for our hospitals, schools for our children and roads for all,” he said. 

Buhari expressed sadness that the people’s dream to choose their leaders, has been thwarted by corrupt practices including purchase of votes. He commended the organisers, Save Democracy Group Africa for creating the platform for continued dialogue for political actors across party lines.

Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker Yakubu Dogara in their separate remarks pledged the support of the National Assembly in the fight against corruption, noting that there was need for sacrifice across board.

“The days of business as usual are over. Reckless spending of government’s resources, expenditures not budgeted for, procurement abuses and diversion of public monies for personal gains must be eradicated. As part of our agenda, the National Assembly is strengthening her oversight systems to ensure procedural and output integrity. All public spending must be within the Appropriation Act. We can no longer afford waste,” Saraki said.

Source: THE SUN

Nigeria, Iran Clash Over OPEC Emergency Meeting

 With the global economy reeling from plunging oil prices occasioned by massive over production, Nigeria, a key member of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), which depends hugely on oil revenue for its foreign exchange, has requested an emergency meeting to discuss steps to possibly cut down oil production and prop up oil prices.

But Nigeria’s call has been opposed by Iran, another prominent OPEC member, which claimed that the time is not yet right for such an intervention.

Minister of state for petroleum resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, made the call for an OPEC emergency while speaking at a panel session at the ongoing World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland, adding Nigeria’s voice to those of OPEC members, such as Venezuela, that are requesting an emergency meeting of the oil-producing nations to address the current oil crisis.

Speaking at the session, Kachikwu stated that with the oil industry in its current state, the members of the OPEC, which produce about one-third of the world’s oil, needed to do something proactive soon.

He said, “There is a lot of energy around trying to meet earlier. Obviously, some of that is a panic reaction. Do we just sit back and watch? Or do we put more efforts in talking to countries, like Russia, to try to get some consensus of what we need to be doing?”

However, Iran disagreed with the premise of an emergency meeting as the country’s oil minister, Bijan Zanganeh, stated that the organisation currently has little intention of making a drastic change.

“There should be an intention to make a firm decision in such a meeting; otherwise, the meeting will have negative impacts on world oil markets. The important thing is that there must be an intention for change, but we have not yet received such a signal,” the oil minister said, according to Reuters.

As the global economy heads for what is potentially a very volatile year, analysts have said that OPEC, which requires a consensus from all its members before it initiates a change, has to make a decision very soon.

Following the crash of oil price from an average of $114 a barrel in 2014 to less than $30 a barrel presently, Nigeria’s economy, as well as those of many other oil-dependent countries, has had an economic depreciation. Nigeria’s budget is benchmarked at $38 per barrel of oil as the country needs oil price to rally to fund its budget.

Some OPEC members such as Venezuela had called for emergency meeting but others such as Saudi Arabia, said to have an eye on the happenings in Iran as regards oil production, is yet to make a categorical statement on the matter.

Following the ongoing rift between two Middle East heavy weights, Iran and Saudi Arabia, over the execution of Iran’s top cleric, Sheikh Nimr Al Nimr, the Iranian ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency Saeed Koozechi has said that there’s no tension as such between both countries.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with LEADERSHIP, the envoy stated that even though Iran was very unhappy with Al Nimr’s execution by Saudi Arabia, both countries are not having a regional conflict.

He also stated that the Islamic Republic of Iran also regretted the burning of the Saudi Embassy in Tehran, saying some hoodlums took advantage of the situation by taking the laws into their hands.

“We condemn the unfortunate situation in very strong terms and we are happy that the police was able to put the situation under control and no Saudi diplomat was injured in the incident.

“In fact, over 60 arrests have been made while the matter is being investigated and the culprits will soon be charged to court’’, he added.

On how the country is taking the severing of links by Saudi and some other countries with Iran, he said it is regrettable that Saudi Arabia was too quick in reacting the way it did, adding that it was proactive and also encouraged other countries to do same.

Koozechi said he expected Saudi Arabia to have been more thoughtful and logical about the issue, instead of trying to overshadow their wrong doing.

He said that although the executed cleric was a reformist and a critic of some of Saudi Arabian government’s policies, he never did anything to counter the security of the country to warrant the treatment meted out to him.

He recalled that Al Nimr was arrested four years ago and was until his execution in detention, stating that the Iranian government was not aware if he had the services of a lawyer to defend him in court before his execution.

Oil prices fell three per cent yesterday as Iraq announced record-high oil production, feeding into a heavily over-supplied market.

Iraq’s oil ministry said oil output had reached a record high in December. Its fields in the central and southern regions produced as much as 4.13 million barrels a day, the government said.

The oversupply has wiped out much of the gains made in one of the biggest-ever daily rallies last week. Brent crude, the global benchmark, was down 83 cents at $31.35 a barrel at 1247 GMT, losing 2.6 per cent from its closing price on Friday, when Brent surged 10 per cent. U.S. crude traded 85 cents lower at $31.34 a barrel. A senior Iraqi oil official said the country might raise output even further this year.

“The news that Iraq has probably hit another record builds on the oversupply sentiment,” said Hans van Cleef, senior energy economist at ABN Amro in Amsterdam.

“The oversupply will keep markets depressed and prices low, and on the other hand short positions are in excessive territory.”

The closing of large amounts of short positions had caused a huge rally on Friday that was largely undone again on Monday, creating huge volatility in the oil market.

In a sign that investors expect oil prices to rebound, data from Intercontinental Exchange showed speculators raised net positions of Brent crude in the week ending January 19. Fundamental factors remained bearish. Indonesia’s OPEC governor said support among the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) for taking steps to prop up crude prices is slim. The governor said only one OPEC country supported an emergency meeting over the matter.

Striking a more bullish tone, the group’s Secretary-General Abdullah al-Badri said at a separate event in London that he saw some signs the market was rebalancing. He also said OPEC and non-OPEC producers needed to work together to tackle oversupply in order to prop up oil prices. The chairman of Saudi’s Aramco said on the sidelines of a different conference on Monday that oil prices would ultimately balance at a moderate level as demand continued to rise. In the U.S., one of OPEC’s largest production rivals, a further drop in the number of oil rigs was expected to weigh on output. U.S. investment bank Goldman Sachs said it expected production to decline by 95,000 barrels per day in 2016, including well deferrals, higher than previously assumed.

OPEC Sec-Gen Urges Non-OPEC To Help Clear Oil Stocks Overhang

OPEC and non-OPEC oil producers need to jointly tackle global stocks overhang to enable oil prices recover with investments in new fields, OPEC secretary-general, Abdullah al-Badri, said yesterday.

“It is vital the market addresses the issue of the stock overhang. As you can see from previous cycles, once this overhang starts falling, then prices start to rise,” he told a conference in London.

“Given how this developed, it should be viewed as something OPEC and non-OPEC tackle together. Yes, OPEC provided some of the additional supply last year, but the majority of this has come from non-OPEC countries,” he noted. He said it was crucial that major producers came up with a solution, as the market needed to see inventories come down to levels that would allow prices to recover and encourage investments. “The current environment is putting this future at risk. At current price levels, it is clear that not all of the necessary future investment is viable,” he said.

Source:  LEADERSHIP

Metuh gave me $2m cash to invest, says woman

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday called two out of the 18 witnesses it lined up against the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Olisa Metuh, with respect to the charges of money laundering involving the sum of N400m which he allegedly collected from the Office of the National Security Adviser in November 2014.

The trial commenced before a Federal High Court in Abuja after the presiding judge, Justice Okon Abang, overruled a request for an adjournment by Metuh’s lead counsel, Mr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), who had sought time to enable him and his team to have access to some documents and prepare better for the defence.

The ruling by Justice Abang, dismissing the request for adjournment, paved the way for the prosecution to call its first witness, Nneka Ararume, an employee of Asset and Resource Management Company Limited, who narrated how Metuh gave her $2m cash at his house in Prince and Princess Estate, Abuja.

Ararume, who described his position at ARM as Wealth Manager, said she collected the cash from Metuh on December 2, 2014, with an instruction to invest the money on behalf of the PDP spokesperson’s company, Destra Investments Limited.

She said ARM had been managing Destra’s funds before she joined the financial services company in April, 2013.

Before the trial commenced on Monday, Ikpeazu had informed the court that his client had “laboured” unsuccessfully to meet the bail conditions imposed by the court on January 19, and had applied for the variation of the terms.

The court ruled that the application could not be heard on Monday since it was only served on the prosecution in the open court on Monday morning.

Ikpeazu asked for an adjournment of the case on the grounds that he was only served in court with the prosecution’s additional proof of evidence containing the statement of the EFCC witness who investigated the case.

Citing the rights to fair hearing which an accused person was entitled to under Section 36 of the Constitution, he added that he needed time to meet with Metuh, whom he said was assumed would have been able to fulfill the bail conditions by Monday.

Ikpeazu stated that the defense needed time to get some documents, including the statement of account of the PDP spokesperson.

The lead prosecuting counsel, Mr. Sylvanus Tahir, opposed the application for an adjournment, insisting that the accused had been given enough time to prepare for his defense since he had been served with the charges and other necessary documents since January 14.

The judge agreed with the prosecution but ruled that the prosecution must not call on Monday the witness whose statement was only served on the defense in court.

When the trial commenced, Ararume, who said she managed Destra Investments Limited funds with ARM, explained that she proceeded to change the $2m, which she collected from Metuh, to its naira equivalent through two bureau de change operators.

Ararume, who was led in evidence by Tahir, said on December 2, 2014, which was about 11 days after N400m was allegedly paid into Destra’s Diamond Bank account by the Office of the NSA on November 22, 2014, Metuh invited her to his home at Prince and Princess Estate in Abuja, asking her to come along with her companies brochure on different types of investments available.

She said, “Metuh gave me the sum of $2m in $100 bills. It was taken to bureau de change operators, who would then transfer the money to ARM. From there (Metuh’s house), I proceeded to Mr. Sie Iyenome’s office at Wuse 2, where I gave him the sum of $1m.

“I also invited Mr. Kabir Mohammed and I also gave him the sum of $1m to transfer the naira equivalent in favour of Destra Investment Limited.

“Later on the same day, December 2, 2014, Mr. Kabir and Mr. Sie Iyenome confirmed the receipt.”

The defense also sought an adjournment after Ararume completed her testimony.

But Justice Abang upheld the prosecution’s objection to the request for an adjournment, which was basically anchored on the same grounds earlier canvassed by the defence.

Under cross-examination by the defense counsel, Ararume said Destra, owned by Metuh, had been ARM’s client before she was employed by the financial services company in April 2013.

The witness answered negative when asked if she knew “how long it took the defendants to accumulate the money he gave you”.

The EFCC also called Iyenome, one of the bureau de change operators engaged by Ararume to change $1m out of the total $2m she received from Metuh to naira.

Iyenome said he never knew Metuh but only got to know of his company, Destra, on December 2, 2014, when Ararume forwarded the company’s account details to him for the payment of the naira equivalent of $1m he received from her.

Under cross-examination, the witness, who said he believed he was carrying out “a valid transaction”, also told the court that it was the practice in the foreign exchange business to ask for the purposes which funds, brought by customers, were meant for.

He said, “Most times the question for the purpose the money is meant is done verbally, just for due diligence.

“This was a brokering transaction. I’m not the one using the dollar. Even at that, I asked who was selling and Nneka said it was her client at ARM, which was as good as a bank was selling to you.”

Under re-examination by the prosecutor, Iyenome confirmed that there was a limit imposed by law as to how much cash a bureau de change operator could transact with.

He said, “I am aware of some, I can’t name all of them. I’m aware that to sell to an individual travelling outside the country, the limit is $4,000, and for a business, the limit is $5,000.”

Justice Abang adjourned further trial till Tuesday with an instruction to the prosecution that all the prosecution witnesses must be present in court. He fixed Wednesday for the hearing of Metuh’s bail variation application. 

Meanwhile, the National Legal Adviser of the PDP, Mr. Victor Kwon, said the party had nothing to do with the bail conditions set for Metuh, the party’s spokesman.

Kwom explained that friends, colleagues and associates of Metuh had intensified efforts to get sureties required by the court and secure Metuh’s release from prison.

In an interview with one of our correspondents on Monday, Kwom said, “The party has nothing to do with the bail, because we were not asked to come and stand as surety for him.

“Like I said, his friends, associates, colleagues and family members are looking for sureties that will meet the bail conditions.

The EFCC is prosecuting Metuh and Destra Investments Limited on seven counts of money laundering and fraudulent receipt of N400m from the Office of the NSA on November 22, 2014, for the PDP’s campaign activities.

The prosecution alleged that the N400m was “part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity” of the immediate past NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd).

In counts one and two, the EFCC alleged that Metuh and Destra Investments Limited “took possession” of the sum of N400m from the account of the Office of the NSA with the Central Bank of Nigeria without contract award and converted the money.

The prosecution also alleged in count four that sometime between November, 2014 and March, 2015, Metuh and the firm used the said N400m for the campaign activities of the PDP and other purposes while “having reason to know that the money directly represented proceeds of an unlawful activity of Colonel Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (retd).”

Source: PUNCH

LASSA FEVER: symptoms, prevention, treatment

                                                                  Prof-Oyewale-Tomori

According to Dr. Ejike Orji, a virologist and immediate past chairman of the Guild of Medical Directors, Abuja, Lassa fever is asymptomatic   and the process of detecting the virus is complicated. The incubation period is about 6 to 21 days.

“The virus is very acute and can affect all the organs of the body.  Carriers might be complaining of fever, muscle pain, fatigue and occasionally muscle swelling. They could also complain that their eyes are red and that is because of itching since Lassa causes haemorrhagic fever”.

Speaking further, Dr Orji said because of the haemorrhagic nature of the virus, it can also affect the gastrointestinal tracts so much so that an affected person might present with cases of nausea and vomiting which may be bloody. He added that apart from a bloody diarrhoea which an infected person is likely to come up with, there might also be some forms of stomach pains and even constipation.  There could also be  evidence of hepatitis.

Also, Lassa fever can affect the cardiovascular system as it might lead to hypertension or hypotension, causing the blood pressure to be high or low and the victim would have abnormal high range.  Another grim picture of the virus is that the brain is not spared.  Lassa fever can affect the brain or the nervous system and it might mimic meningitis.

“The respiratory system is also at risk as an infected person can also come down with cough, chest pain and difficulty in breathing”, Dr Orji added.

Treatment

Being a haemorrhagic fever which is viral in nature, the Lassa virus is diagnosed by doing a laboratory test in a test centre.

Dr.  Orji said the first step in the treatment of a carrier of the virus is admitting and isolating the person, while also ensuring that the patient’s body fluid and excreta are properly disposed in order to prevent the spread.

“For people to have a chance of survival, there must be early and aggressive treatment with a drug called ribavirin and of course the normal treatment you give to patients. There is also a drug we call interferon which can boost the immune system.

“The normal treatment for people who have such viral infection is you must make sure you test the person and ensure the patient has enough (intravenous) fluids.  Also if the person has bled so much, there might be need for some level of transfusion.”

Prevention

Being a viral infection, which can be easily spread, medical practitioners have always harped on prevention as the best form of treatment.  Preventive measures in this regard refer to making efforts to control the rat population around the house, while also ensuring that no food is exposed to rodents since the urine and body fluid of rodents are the key things which cause Lassa fever transmission.

“Some people eat rats; those people should be discouraged because transmission could happen when it is being prepared. It is just like we told people not to eat bats and bush meat during the Ebola period so people must make sure that they prevent contacts with rats and then they should cover their food very well”.

For those who also like to gulp down canned drinks without running a careful check, there could also be a grim picture as using a tissue paper to clean the opening  is not enough to safeguard against the virus. For it to be safe for drinking, there would be need to use soap and water, the medic added.

“I always tell people not to drink directly from a canned drink.  It can be dangerous because you don’t know whether rodents have urinated on them in the process of storage.  It is important that we use soap and water to clean the openings of those things before they are served to people”, Dr Orji submitted.

He added that another  way of treating the virus is to get a person who has survived it since the anti-body can be used to treat someone that has the disease.

                                                                   Dr Lazarus Eze

Also commenting on the issue, Dr Lazurus Eze, an Abuja-based public health physician,   canvassed for government to ensure a safer environment by ensuring a timely and regular waste disposal  and management in order to curb the spread of the virus.

For him, Lassa fever can be prevented by keeping a clean environment and practising good personal hygiene. He harped on the need for individuals to ensure proper refuse disposal and avoid dumping of refuse in drainages and indiscriminately.

“Lassa Fever is a viral haemorrhagic fever caused by multimammates rats (Mastomy natalensis). The rats may transmit the virus to our uncooked food. Government at all levels should provide leadership and coordinate efforts to prevent further spread of Lassa fever. Health education at the community level, behavioural change, communication and proper waste management are effective primary prevention measures,” he asserted.

Furthering, Dr Eze called on government at all levels to provide leadership and coordinate efforts to prevent further spread of Lassa fever.

“Health education at the community level, behavioural change, communication and proper waste management are effective primary prevention measures”, Dr Eze said.

Measures for health care workers

Both medical practitioners also harped on the need for health workers treating the virus to be careful by observing universal precautionary methods and treating every fever with suspicion.

“We know that in Nigeria, a lot of illnesses are due to Malaria, but now we have had Ebola and now we have Lassa so any health care personnel should manage feverish conditions with a lot of suspicion and maintain all universal precautions in terms of protecting themselves and then the other thing is making sure the patient is properly isolated, said Dr Orji.

Dr Eze on his own part urged that personal protective equipment must be provided for health workers who are expected to observe universal precautions and best practices.

Lassa fever and garri consumption

Speaking on the likelihood of being infected with the virus through garri, fruits and other uncooked food items, Prof Oyewole Tomori, a former regional virologist for the World Health Organisation (WHO) and president of the Nigeria Academy of Science, confirmed that any food eaten raw or uncooked and contaminated with urine, blood, etc of a Lassa virus infected rodents can be a source of infection.

“Our food can get contaminated and if you eat without cooking, the possibility of getting infected is high. Once you cook the food items, you destroy the virus, so people smoking garri and all those kind of things are at risk. If the rodents urinate on the fruits and you pick up banana or carrot and you just start chewing it without washing, that could be dangerous, so it boils down to hygiene and cleanliness”.

Source: THE NATION

Current account holders to pay maintenance charges

Bank customers are to pay a maintenance fee on current account transactions, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) announced at the weekend. The new fee is a negotiable current account maintenance fee not exceeding N1 per mille (N1 per N1,000,000) may be charged in respect of all customer-induced debit transactions.

CBN’s Financial Policy and Regulation Department Director Kelvin Amugo, who announced the fee through a circular to banks, said that the CBN was not oblivious of the impact of declining crude oil prices, operation of Treasury Single Account, and some other market turbulence on the viability and stability of the banking system.

In a circular titled: “Introduction of Negotiable Current Account Maintenance Fee not Exceeding N1/mille”, Amugo explained that the new fee was introduced in the interest of stability of the banking system.
The fee came weeks after the regulator struck out Commission on Transaction (COT) fee, which contributed significantly to lenders’ profitability.

He said the Revised Gide to Bank Charges (RGBC), which came into effect on April 1, 2013 provides for a phased elimination of COT charges. Under the guidelines, a zero COT regime was to come into effect from this month.

“The CBN noted that while the gradual phase out was being observed, some banks continued to charge account maintenance fees in addition to the reduced COT rate, which in effect amounted to double coincidence of charges,” he said.

Amugo said the negotiable current account maintenance fee was in furtherance of the mandate to promote and safeguard a sound financial system. He reminded lenders that 2016 zero COT regime as jointly agreed during the 311th Bankers’ Committee meeting of February 12, 2013 had come into effect and must be complied with.

The CBN, last week, started the implementation of the N50 stamp duty payment on every N1,000 transaction. The CBN said the policy was in line with the provisions of its enabling laws. It pointed out that with immediate effect, all banks and other financial institutions shall start charging N50 per eligible transaction in accordance with the provisions of the Stamp Duties Act and the Federal Government Financial Regulations 2009.

The CBN stressed that all receipts given by any bank or other financial institutions in acknowledgment of services rendered in respect of electronic transfer and teller deposits from N1, 000 and above should be charged.

 However, the bank pointed out that payments deposits or transfer by self to self whether inter or intra bank and any form of withdrawals/ transfer s from savings accounts should not be charged. The charges are only payable by receiving accounts.

Source: THE NATION

EFCC to quiz Badeh, others in batches

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has raised  a team to interrogate a former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, and 17 others, including 11 senior military officers.

The officers, who have been mentioned in connection with the alleged $2.1 billion arms deals,  will be quizzed in batches, it was learnt at the weekend.

Some of the officers have, however, alleged that they were not allowed to appear before the Special Investigative Committee (sic) before being referred to the EFCC.

A former National  Chairman of the Peoples Democratic party (PDP), Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, has said he has not received any invitation from the anti-graft agency, contrary to reports.

The list of military officers to be grilled includes two former Chiefs of Air Staff, Air Marshals M.D. Umar and A.N. Amosu(rtd).

Others to be probed are 22 companies traced to associates and relatives of some of the suspects.

Also to be probed are: AVM A. M. Mamu (the Chief of Administration); AVM O.T.Oguntoyinbo (former Director of Production, Defence Headquarters);  AVM R.A. Ojuawo (Air Officer Tactical Air Command, Makurdi;  AVM J.B. Adigun(former Chief of Accounts and Budgeting in NAF); and AVM JA Kayode-Beckley (Director, Armament Research in Air Force Research and Development Centre); AVM T Omenyi (MD, NAF Holdings) four top officers at the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), Air Cdre A.O. Ogunjobi; Air Cdre G.M.D Gwani; Air Cdre S.O. Makinde; Air Cdre A.Y. Lassa and Col. N. Ashinze , who was the Special Military Assistant to the ex-National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.).

 Col. Ashinze is in the EFCC’s custody.

The anti-graft agency has quizzed  Alex Badeh Jr., son of the former Chief of Defence Staff, in connection with the arms scandal.

A source said: “We are going ahead with the interrogation of some former and serving military officers as recommended. There is no going back on this.

“We have a team ready to interact with these officers and about 22 companies. But we will conduct the interrogation in batches.

“Very soon, we will invite these officers. We have a schedule of how we will conduct our findings.”
Some serving and former military chiefs have raised issues on why they were referred to the EFCC because the sic had not invited them.

A source said: “We were surprised that the EFCC has been mandated to interact with some of us when we  were never invited by the sic which made the recommendation to the Presidency.

“This is an area we want the President and Commander-In-Chief, HE Muhammadu Buhari, to look at. The sic did some preliminary work for EFCC to act upon. But we were not asked to appear.
“We are not afraid of accounting for our tenure but due process must be followed.”

Mu’azu said he had not received any invitation from the EFCC or any anti-graft agency.
An aide to Muazu, who spoke on behalf of his boss, said: “Contrary to what is being reported, Mu’azu is yet to receive any invitation from the EFCC or any agency.

“The ex-PDP National Chairman is also not aware of any allegation against him. Yet we read of N500million and some ambiguous figures on a daily basis. Some even alleged that the former governor is on the run, which is not true.  Mu’azu was a party leader and he did not go beyond his bound while leading the PDP.”

Self Promotion: Customs in massive de-ranking of officers

                             Customs CG, Hameed Ali inspecting Guard of Honour at Customs Headquarter

 CRISIS is brewing at the Nigerian Customs Service, NCS, following management’s decision to clampdown on officers from the ranks of Assistant Comptroller of Customs to the lowest cadre, over their alleged indiscriminate allotment of ranks to themselves.

The development, it was gathered, has made some of the affected officers to start running helter skelter with a view to scuttling the exercise.

Some affected officers have resorted to using their godfathers to stop the management from implementing the decision.

Effort to reach the Service Spokesman, Mr. Adewale Adebayo, a Deputy Comptroller of Customs was futile as his phone rang several times without being picked up.

Confirming the development, Mr Chris Osunkwo, a Chief Superi-ntendent of Customs, told Saturday Vanguard that some officers have refused to play by rules and regulations guiding Customs promotions, transfer and deployment, adding that the indiscipline prompted the current management to embark on the de-ranking exercise.

He explained that a lot of people in the service had abused the rules and regulations of the service because they believe they have godfathers that can speak for them.

Osunkwo, who is also the Spokesman of the Tin-Can Island Customs Command, disclosed that the same directive was given during the tenure of Mr. Abdullahi Dikko but the directive was not implemented. “Even during Oga Dikko’s time as Comptroller – General, this same directive was released but nobody cared to enforce it and I don’t know why they refused to obey but now the new management is taking steps, to enforce the directive.”

Explaining further, Osunkwo said that there are three cadres in the Customs Service: Customs Assistant Cadre, Inspectorate Cadre and Superintendent Cadre.

He also said if anybody wanted to migrate from one cadre to the other, there are conditions an officer must fulfil before migrating,adding that what obtains these days is that people just ascribe ranks to themselves without following due process.

He disclosed that this was not the first time such a directive was being released, adding that some officers flout directives because they believe they have godfathers, who can speak for them.

His words: “People ab initio refused to abide by the rules and regulations that guide our appointments, promotions and deployments.

“Officers know that these things have been spelt out; it is just that a lot of them believe that they have godfathers here and there, that is why they sometimes flout some of these directives. If you are not a graduate or Higher National Diploma holder, and you join the Customs, you are not a commissioned officer yet until you do what we call lateral conversion.

“We have three cadre points of entry into the Nigeria Customs Service and they are the Customs Assistant Cadre, the Inspectorate Cadre and Superintendent cadre. If you want to migrate from one cadre to another cadre, there are conditions in the scheme of service which should qualify you to migrate and not for you to ascribe rank to yourself.

‘’If you have any added qualification to entry qualification, come forward and management will verify if you got approval to embark on your educational pursuit. If this is confirmed, you are automatically up graded to the cadre of your wish. But what obtains among some officers is that they get additional qualification most times without approval and before you know it, they are wearing ranks they are not entitled to wear. Whether these additional qualifications are fake or not, nobody cares to find out.”


In like manner, the Public Relation Officer of the Apapa Area One Command of the Customs Service, Mr. Emmanuel Ekpa told Saturday Vanguard that the Comptroller General, Col. Hameed Ali (retd) is working on a directive that officers should put on their appropriate rank.

Ekpa also confirmed the fact that officers had refused to wear their appropriate rank in the past, even when the last Comptroller-General of Customs Mr. Dikko Abdullahi tried to address the issue.

“The truth is that what has happened is not new and the Comptroller-General of Customs is not doing anything contrary to the rules and regulations of the service. What he did was that he was given directive on officers that are not putting on their appropriate rank. How do you know the appropriate rank? Bring your letter of promotion; your letter of promotion will determine what your rank is.