The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has commenced the criminal trial of six accused persons arrested with fake customs documents.
Customs Area Controller, Federal Operations Uni, Zone ‘A’, Comptroller Isa Nuhu had in September 2013 paraded six suspected fraudsters arrested by officers of the forensic unit of the Service for allegedly being in possession of various forged customs documents.
The accused persons namely; Abiodun Ojo, Uche Nwankpa, Charles Ali, Abutu Emmanuel, Sunday Nwaeze and Ngozie Ibe were charged to court on a five-count charge including counterfeiting and selling of fake customs auction allocation paper; counterfeiting of the official seal of the Comptroller-General of Customs; counterfeiting of the official seal of officer in charge of valuation, Nigeria Customs Service, Idiroko, Ogun State and counterfeiting the official seal of the officer in charge of valuation seat, Apapa.
The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges and were consequently granted bail by the presiding judge.
Nuhu said the offence contravened the provisions of Sections 162 (a), 162 (d) and 166 of Customs and Excise management Act cap C45 laws of the Federation.
The trial of the accused persons commenced before Justice Musa. H. Kurya, of the Federal High Court Ikoyi, Lagos last Tuesday.
The case has been adjourned till 4th March, 2014.
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