Court Adjourns Hearing Of Customs Comptroller General Impersonator To 3 July

A Federal High Court sitting in the Central Business District of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has conducted a hearing of one Ibrahim Shu’aibu, a 50-year-old man, for assuming the character of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, among other distinguished personalities in Nigeria, to commit fraudulent activities.

The Nigeria Customs Service had, on Monday, 29 January 2024, addressed the media about the suspect’s apprehension by the Service’s Police Unit following his involvement in fraudulent activities, which included luring numerous citizens to pay him money for the issuance of job appointment letters.

According to a statement on Thursday, at the court hearing, the lead Counsel of the Nigeria Customs Service, Abidemi Adewumi-Aluko, said the accused was arraigned on a nine-count charge to which the defendant pleaded not guilty.

Justice Binta Nyako, the presiding judge, adjourned the hearing to Wednesday, 3 July 2024, and ordered that the accused be remanded with the Nigerian Correctional Service pending the fulfilment of bail requirements.

Meanwhile, the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adeniyi, on Monday 29 April 2024, in Abuja, collaborated with the Abdulsamad Rabiu Initiative Africa (ASR Africa) to actualise humanitarian intervention projects in Africa.

During the Monday meeting with the ASR Africa team at the Nigeria Customs Service Headquarters, CGC Adeniyi commended the organisation for its progress while pledging his full support to work with the foundation.

The Comptroller-General of Customs said, “I want to appeal to other stakeholders whose operations we impact and those who impact ours to partner with us to see how we can collaborate to enhance our operations in places that need interventions.

“There are other critical aspects of our operations for which we do not have adequate resources, and when we have interventions like this, it will go a long way. Since the welfare of NCS is your concern, the growth of ASR Africa will be of premium importance to us.”

He expressed readiness to submit whatever has been decided, adding, “It will be my pleasure to be at the groundbreaking event not just to show how happy we are but to express our gratitude to the foundation.”

The Managing Director of ASR Africa, Dr Ubon Udo, stated that the organisation is a personal initiative that intervenes in the area of health, education, and social development with an annual budget of 100 million dollars.

The MD revealed that the organisation seeks a partnership with NCS to achieve an environment that is safe and secure, developed, and better understands border integrity and security.

However, he invites the Comptroller-General of Customs to the groundbreaking ceremony of a hospital construction for the Nigeria Customs Service in Bauchi.