We’re Considering Legal Action Against Customs Over Killings — Gov Masari

Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State has disclosed that his government is considering legal actions against Customs as a result of recurring killings of innocent citizens through reckless driving by operatives of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) in the state.

In a statement by Malam Abdu Labaran, Director General (DG), Media and Publicity to Masari and made available to newsmen in Katsina on Friday, Masari said he would no longer condone such senseless killings.

Governor Masari warning came in the wake of the recent death of eight people, who were crushed by Customs operatives driving recklessly in pursuit of suspected smugglers in Jibia Local Government, last Monday.

Masari extended his condolences to the families of the deceased and those who sustained injuries, warning that the government would no longer fold its arms to watch law-abiding citizens killed by government agents who are supposed to be protecting them.

“The state government is considering legal action against the NCS to serve as a  deterrent against a future occurrence of the fatal incident” Masari said.

In another news, Customs has warned that only items imported by the President, Commander in Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, are exempted from the payment of duties or taxes.

Mr Timi Bomodi, Deputy National Public Relations Officer of the NCS, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja.

“We wish to reiterate that by law, only items imported by the President, Commander in Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, are exempted from the payment of duties or taxes”, the statement said.

Bomodi explained that government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) were expected to pay duties on vehicles or other items they imported, except where waivers and concessions were sought and granted.

“The attention of the Nigeria Customs Service has been drawn to a trend in the activities of certain Ministries, Departments and Agencies, with regards to their import of vehicles and other equipment.

“The NCS wishes to state that except where waivers or concessions were sought and granted, all outstanding duties and taxes relating to such imports are expected to be paid in full.

“This applies even in situations where these imports were executed by agents or proxies on their behalf.“The NCS is, therefore, by this notice sensitising MDAs and advising them on the need to adhere strictly with import guidelines in this regard”, he said.

Bomodi further explained that contractors, who import and supply such equipment or vehicles without payment of duties, would be considered liable as fraudulent importers.

“We urge them to avail themselves of our trade facilitation tools available on and offline. This is necessary to avoid embarrassments in future”, he added.

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