… seeks Police IG’s intervention
The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has indicted a Police officer serving at Maritime Police Command Obalande Lagos Nigeria.
The association in a statement signed by the National Co-ordinator NAGAFF 100% Team, Alh. Tanko Ibrahim, accused the particular officer AP117542 of corruption with impunity, to the extent that his superior officers can not even talk to him over his bad conduct for over three years in the Command.
He informed that the Customs Command and Nigeria Shippers Council have severally intervened over this particular officer issuing stoppage letters to terminal operators and shipping companies on cargo at the ports
Pointing out the fact that the remote cause of unrest in Nigeria is about corruption, lack of education and knowledge, Ibrahim stressed that a neglect on education while encouraging corruption would stagnate the progress of the nation.
He shifted blame from President Ahmed Tinubu and the state governments saying that the challenge is with the citizens to respect the rule of law and order.
His words: “Take it to the maritime industry, if we continue to encourage corruption in Nigeria and refuse to invest heavily in education we shall be building a castle on a shifting sand.
“The issue here is not about President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and or the State governments of Nigeria, it is about us the Nigerian people to respect and obey the rule of law and order of the society.”
The 100% Compliance Team Co-ordinator, stated that time has come to eradicate corruption and focus on doing things right in the Maritime sector.
“Specifically in our own sector of the economy, the Maritime trade and transportation, it is time we do the correct thing and stay out of corruption act and related negative activities
“Let it be on record that the heads of government agencies and parastatals assigned to ports and borders have not asked its officers to extort money from Nigerians who come to the ports to transact businesses.
“The duty of officers are simple and straightforward to ensure full compliance to import and export regulations of the government.
“Indeed their various functions are clearly outlined in the extant rules and regulations guiding import and export procedures of Nigeria.
“What is left for us is to abide by the regulations and learn how to be honest in our endeavours and responsibilities.
“And for most agents of the government, it is so sad and regrettable to note the level of neglect over government interest in relation to enforcement of law and order of the society,” Ibrahim further said in the statement.
According to him, it is trite to note that it shall be a statutory duty on the part of agents of the government to protect the interest of the government and the society.
“It is to the contrary at the moment occasioned by corruption,” he said.
Ibrahim pledged that the compliance team of NAGAFF is prepared to assist the federal government in collaboration with the Nigeria Customs and the Nigeria Police to ensure best practices in the Customs ports and border stations of Nigeria.
He maintained that Nigeria can not survive with the level of corruption in Nigeria in almost all the sectors of the economy.
“Going forward we do say that it is all about our collective courage and will to confront these avoidable circumstances in our country,” he stated.
He added: “And for those who may be afraid to participate in this initiative of doing things rightly, let it be on record that the Comptroller General of Customs, the Inspector General of Police and other heads of government agencies at the ports and borders never asked any of its officers to extort money from any one at the ports.
“However in carrying out this initiative, let it be noted that he who goes for equity must come with clean hands to enable justice to prevail.
“To set example of our intent to tackle corruption, unprofessional conduct and indiscipline of some officers of the government in the Nigeria ports , we hereby draw the attention of Inspector General of Police to a particular officer serving at Maritime Police Command Obalande Lagos Nigeria.
“This particular officer is so corrupt with impunity and courage that his superior officers can not even talk to him over his bad conduct for over three years in that Command.
“This observation is being forwarded to Inspector General of Police and Director of Finance for further investigation and NAGAFF is prepared to provide material evidence in this regard,” the anti-corruption crusader disclosed.
The statement endorsed by Ibrahim in part read: “We shall in due course gradually pick bad officers from the various agencies of the government posted to entry points who we consider as part of the problem against renewed hope for Nigeria greatness.
“Let it be on record that NAGAFF has the capacity to escalate corruption act against any body found to be sabotaging the efforts of the federal government of Nigeria at this critical time of depression among Nigerians.
“We look forward to Inspector General of Police reaching out to us at NAGAFF headquarters at 2A Maybin Street Apapa GRA Lagos.
“This observation is equally being forwarded to the AIG Maritime Command for her information and we know that this particular officer may have received several warnings from appropriate higher authority.
“We also know that Customs Command and Nigeria Shippers Council have severally intervened over this particular officer issuing stoppage letters to terminal operators and shipping companies on cargo at the ports.
“It is also important to note that a substantive Commissioner of Police and his officers have observer status and resident at the ports and yet this particular officer A/P 117542 kept on distorting port orders and standards corruptly.
“We also know that past Inspector General of Police may have issued various warnings to the Police formations to stop meddling with Customs statutory functions and yet this particular officer will never listen.
“It is our belief that proper investigation by IGP monitoring unit shall reveal soonest this particular officer and his activities to serve as deterrent to other corrupt officers of the government agencies assigned to the ports.
“Indeed as a chieftain of All PROGRESSIVE CONGRESS , it shall be in- appropriate for me to keep quiet and watch this particular officer of the Nigeria Police Force sabotage our concerted effort towards making Nigeria a better place for all Nigerians to live and attain their aspirations.
“This observation is therefore being signed into effect as a working document to Inspector General of Police and chairman All Progressive Congress Party (APC) accordingly.”
The statement according to Ibrahim was sent to the Senate President, Chief of staff to Mr. President, Secretary of Federal Government of Nigeria, Comptroller General of Customs and Inspector General of Police.