The Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Alhaji Inde Dikko Abdullahi, has promised to take over the medical treatment of a victim of acid bath, Ms Tope Fadipe, including flying her overseas if the need arise.
The victim, a young lady, was allegedly bathed with acid by a Customs Officer, identified as F. C. Nwaeze.
Nwaeze, a Chief Superintendent of Customs (CSC), who lives in Badagry, Lagos presently serves in Seme Border Command.
Nwaeze who has since been handed over to the Special Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Panti Yaba, Lagos for necessary action was said to have poured the acid on the young woman, following her alleged refusal to remit over N50, 000 stock sales in a food store owned by Nwaeze’s family in Badagry, Lagos on May 9, 2014.
Neighbours of the victim said Fadipe’s refusal to give an accurate account of the sales led to a heated argument that culminated in the pouring of acid on her.
The incident which went viral in the Internet attracted the attention of the Customs boss who was said to have been touched by the plight of the young lady.
The service in a statement issued in Lagos and signed by the Customs Area Controller, Federal Operation Unit (FOU), Zone A, Ikeja, Lagos, Comptroller Nuhu Mohammed said Abdullahi reiterated the service zero tolerance to any act of indiscipline or official misdemeanor in whatever guise.
“He has condemned such heinous crime in its entirety. Consequently, the CGC has ordered a full investigation on the matter with a view to ascertaining the circumstances surrounding the assault.
“The CGC has further directed that should the officer be found culpable as alleged, severe disciplinary actions which includes dismissal would be taken against the officer to serve as deterrent to others”, the statement added.
According to him, in view of the need to mitigate the emotional trauma of the family of the victim, the CGC has promised to if need be, take full responsibility for the medical treatment of the victim, even if it entails seeking medical treatment abroad.
The Customs boss maintained that the service would conduct an in-house disciplinary committee to deal decisively with the issue.
Continuing, Comptroller Mohammed said: “The CGC and indeed the entire Customs Management wish to express their complete resentment with such callous and irresponsible conduct, which certainly is not in the character of Nigeria Customs Service as a disciplined organisation. The service will continue to be the pride of the Nation both in conduct and character.”
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