…As NCS Keeps Mute Over Incident
Two Nigeria Customs Service(NCS) officers attached to the international Wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA),Lagos, connived to extort N1 million as Customs Clearance from Oke Adhekegba, a Nigerian returning from the United States on May 16,2025.
Adhekegba, who arrived at the airport from the US on board a British Airways flight with five suitcases containing his personal effects, such as shoes, clothes, and other items for his children and relatives.
Getting to the Customs point, the duo simply identified by their first names as Adebayo and Ugboma, checked Adhekegba’s luggage and claimed that he had to pay for Customs Clearance as revenue for the Federal Government.
The fraudulent two NCS officers were said to have demanded N5 million from Adhekegba.
To ensure that they collect the money from him fraudulently , they tossed him around, frustrated and made him to negotiate their unlawful demand.
After much frustration and threat , looking at the time, which was 9 pm, the Returning Nigerian, caved in to the officers demand, as they agreed to take N1 million instead of the initial N5 million, they had earlier told him the Customs Clearance would cost.
“I had thought they would provide a government account number but no, it was a female PoS merchant they brought. The merchant, whom I am convinced is their accomplice, provided her PalmPay account number
“I had nothing incriminating on me or in my luggage. They said they had about five pairs of shoes in my bags. I asked them, ‘Are the shoes not of the same size?’ I said, ‘Is there any law that says I cannot enter Nigeria with my pairs of shoes?’ They claimed one of my bags was worth $5,000. Luckily, I had not removed a price tag, showing $106, from the bag.
“They collected the money and claimed that they would pay the money to the government coffers the following day. This is pure robbery.
“I was already tired and exhausted, flying about 17 hours from Houston. After robbing me of my money, that officer Adebayo still had the effrontery to come to me to ask me to give him a pair of sandals I bought for my daughter.
“Some people told me this is the order of the day. Everyday, they rattle people to collect money. It needs to stop. I did not deserve to experience such a callous treatment,” he lamented.
Attempts made to reach the Customs Public Relations Officer (PRO,) Abdullahi Maiwada, at the Airport to properly identified the two Customs Officers involved,Adebayo and Ugboma failed .
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