Coordinator, Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone C of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Comptroller Victor Dimka, has dismissed allegations of extortion leveled against officers of the unit by the South East Amalgamated Market Traders Association (SEAMATA).
The group had in a communiqué signed by its President General, Chief Okwudili Ezenwankwo, and president of the traders in the five states of the zone accused officers of the unit of extorting money from unsuspecting importers after issuance of double duty payment by exaggerated debit notes.
But in defence of his officers, Dimka in a chat with SHIPS& PORTS DAILY said that the group was merely seeking prominence with the accusation.
He said nobody had come to his office to lay such complaints.
“If you talk of boys doing that; have they reported them to their boss? Why will you allow them to exploit you when you know you have done the right thing?
He said, “When officers tow their line, they will not say anything but when officers are not doing that, then they will start complaining. Why do you give anybody anything when you know you are right? They should be arrested for that.
“No importer will wake up and be clapping for you when you are doing the right thing, when in just 12 months you have made seizures worth N1.8 billion which has never happened in the history of that place.
“We have goods that have been abandoned there because they cannot come forward to lay a claim to them,” he said.
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