The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Board said six persons were sentenced by a Federal High Court in Lagos to two years imprisonment each over five-count charges including counterfeiting of Customs allocation paper.
This is contained in a statement on Monday in Lagos by the Public Relations Officer, Federal Operations Unit (F.O.U) of the NCS, Ikeja, Uche Ejesieme.
The charges include conspiracy, forgery and counterfeiting of Customs allocation paper.
The statement said that consequently, each accused person was sentenced to two years imprisonment on each of the five-count charges, which would run concurrently.
NCS said that the convicts were charged to court in 2013 for the offences.
“The NCS secured the conviction of the six people on Wednesday, June 29, 2016.
“They are Abiodun Ojo, Uche Nwamaka, Charles Ali, Abutu Emmanuel, Sunday Nwaeze and Ngozi Ibe,” the statement said.
According to the statement, the convicts were tried over a five-count charge before Justice Musa Kurya of the Federal High Court on Sept. 11, 2013.
It said that the six persons were alleged to have counterfeited NCS allocation paper, Ref. NCS/ADM/MGT/012/S.1/C, VOL IV of June 4, 2013, with a serial number 00002095 for 1×20 Container No GESU2339750.
The statement said that the six convicts were also found to be in possession of counterfeit official seal of the Comptroller-General of Customs and also counterfeited the seal of the Officer-In-Charge of Valuation, NCS Idiroko, Ogun.
It said that the convicts were also found with the seal of the Valuation Seat, Apapa Command.
The statement said that this was contrary to the provisions of Section 162 (a) and (d) of Nigeria Customs and Excise Management Act Cap C45 Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004.
The statement noted that the convicts were also jointly charged with conspiracy under Section 166 of Nigeria Customs and Excise Management Act Cap C45 Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004.
The statement said that Justice Musa of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, found the six persons guilty of the five-count charges.
The Controller of the F.O.U, Zone ‘A’ Ikeja, Comptroller Umar Dahiru, commended the Judiciary for its forthrightness in the delivery of judgement as he stated that it would serve as a deterrent to others.
The statement said that the controller also wished to inform the media that other cases involving other suspects apprehended in connection with other offences were ongoing at the Federal High court.
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