Crime
Customs intercepts 26,950 litres of smuggled PMS
The Nigeria Customs Service (NSC) said it has seized 26,950 litres of petroleum products worth N19 million being smuggled out of the country into Republic of Benin.
The National Coordinator, Operation Whirlwind of the NSC, Mr Hussein Ejibunu, disclosed this on Thursday at a news conference held at the command’s headquarters in Abeokuta.
He said that the petroleum products which consisted of 978 kegs of 25 litres totaling 26,950 litres was impounded in Zone A of the NCS consisting of Lagos and Ogun.
Ejibunu said the special squad was set up few weeks ago by the Controller-General of NCS, Bashir Adeniyi, to complement efforts aimed at cracking down on criminals smuggling petroleum products outside the country.
The customs officer added that the activities of the smugglers usually aid the artificial scarcity of petroleum products in the country forcing the prices to go up for as much as N900 per litre.
He said: “In just about two weeks of operation, Operation Whirlwind team, Zone A axis, intercepted 26,950 litres of premium motor spirit worth N19 million.
“121 kegs of PMS of 25 litres equivalent to 3,025 litres was intercepted at Oyinkansola Global Concept along Badagry/Seme road in Lagos State on May 31.
“77 drums of PMS (616 kegs of 25 litres) equivalent to 15, 400 litres was seized on June 7 at Seayab Petroleum along Imeko/Obada road in Ogun state.
“The means of conveyance is a truck with the registration number 95D4244D,” he said.
Ejibunu stated further that another 100 kegs of PMS of 25 litres equivalent to 2,500 litres was impounded on June 8 along Owode/Atan road in Ogun.
“While an equivalent of 6,025 litres consisting of 141 kegs of 25 litres was seized at Julankoly Oil and Gas along Owode-Ilaro Road,’’ he said.
Ejibunu said that the petrol stations involved in the criminal activities had been sealed while their owners would be prosecuted.
He said the menace posed by the unpatriotic act of smugglers on the Nigerian economy could not be overemphasised, hence the need for synergy with other relevant agencies to win the fight against the saboteurs.
He warned all those who were into criminal acts of sabotaging the country’s economy to either have a change of heart or get dealt with according to the laws.
Troops of the Nigerian Army deployed for special clearance operation in Sambisa Forest, have eliminated 11 Islamic States of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists.
The Nigerian Army, in a statement on its official X Handle disclosed this on Saturday.
It said the feat was achieved in a coordinated special clearance operations with a hybrid force on terrorists’ enclave in Jongo Village within the notorious Sambisa Forest.
It said that the troops targeted the enclave, engaged the terrorists in a fierce gun battle, killing some while others fled in disarray.
The army said its troops further conducted exploitation ahead of the enclave, leading to the capture of some arms.
According to the post, the arms include 99 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm on metal link, 19 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm, 3 AK-47 rifle magazines, two 36 Hand grenades, and two locally made guns.
“This successful operation showcases the operational effectiveness of the Nigerian army in combating terrorism and securing in the region.
“The neutralisation of ISWAP terrorists and the confiscation of their weapons will undoubtedly contribute to enhancing security and stability in the area.
“This further demonstrated the commitment of the Nigerian military to eradicating terrorism and protecting the citizens,” it said.
A Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday ordered final forfeiture of at least 20 property linked to the convicted former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, in a judgment, held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt that the property, located in deferent parts of the country, were acquired illegally.
According to Justice Abdulmalik, the applicant effectively discharged its responsibility, under the law, to establish that the property were acquired with proceeds of crime.
The judge also held that the “various individuals, who responded to an earlier interim forfeiture order, requiring interested parties to show cause why the properties should not be permanently forfeited, failed to establish their ownership of the affected properties with credible evidence.”
Out of the 23 property listed in the schedule, three of them were left out, which include Flat 42C, SMC Quarters, Unguwan Dosa, Kaduna; Plot 18, Road F, on TPO 462B C of O Kd5469 and Plot of C of O Bo/426 Beacon B5086, B5087, B5105, B5104, B5099 Cadastral Zone B05 Utako.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Maina’s wife, Laila, who claimed to be a citizen of the United States, and some of his relatives and associates, including Uwani Usman, Alhaji Aminu Yakubu Wambai, Haruna Mu’azu Musa and Aliyu Abdullahi, had claimed ownership of the 23 property.
The anti-graft agency had earlier obtained an order of interim forfeiture of 23 property linked to Maina, currently on eight-year jail term for pension fraud to the tune of N2 billion.
Delivering the judgment on Thursday, Justice Abdulmalik agreed with lawyer to the EFCC, Farouk Abdullah, that those who claimed to owned the property failed to effectively establish the alleged ownership by producing credible evidence.
She said: “It is trite in law that civil cases in non-conviction forfeiture are hinged on the preponderance of evidence.
“Again, I hold that the respondents have failed woefully in tilting the scale of evidential weight in their favour.
“In all, sequel to the facts and documentary detailed evidence relied on by the applicant (the EFCC) in support of this application for final forfeiture, I do hold that the evidential burden of proof indeed shifted to the claimants to establish by way of cogent documentary evidence, the sequential trail of the genesis of their finances leading to the buildup as well as the the acquisition of the aforementioned properties subject of interim forfeiture.
“In view of this grave omission on the part of the claimants (Maina, his wife and his associates) to show good and credible cause on the history of their legitimate earnings, I hereby find merit in applicant’s application for final forfeiture of properties Nos: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22 and 23 set out in schedule one, attached to the order of interim forfeiture, save properties No: 3, 14 and 20. I so order.”
The affected properties are located in Abuja, Nasarawa, State Kaduna State and Kano State.
They include “Plot No: 965 Gwarimpa 1 District, Cadastral Zone: CO2, covered by C of O No: 1afew-fe28z-63a5r-e36eu-10.
“Duplex located at No: 16 A Katuru Road, Kaduna.
“52B, SMC Quarters, Unguwan Dosa, Lot 016, comprising of 3 bedroom semi-detached bungalow.
“Property at Tola Street, Badarawa, Kaduna, comprising of three bedrooms and an undeveloped land.
“Plot Y12, Kano Street, Kawo New Extension, Kaduna.
“A duplex located at No: 21, 52 Crescent , Kubwa Phase 1V estate
“House 8, 211 Road, a close numbered FHA/EST/264/TA/032.l, 3 bedrooms bungalow.
*Farm at Dorawa, Karshi Development Area, Karu Local Government Area, Nasarawa State.
“Another farm at Dorawa, Karshi Development Area, Karu Local Government Area, Nasarawa State.
“Plot 3A, Sambo Road, Unguwan Rimi, covered by C of O No: KD15452.
“Plot MF-27A, New Pasafi Layout, Kuje, Abuja.
“Plot 1B Ajayi Road, Unguwan Rimi, covered by C of O numbered: NC24059
“Block 23 Flat 2 located at Life Camp (2 bedroom semi-detached.
“Property at No: 62 A/C Maternity ward , Damaturu Road, Biu
“Plot 3A, Sambo Road, Unguwan Rimi covered by C of O No: KD15452 comprising of uncomplicated buildings.
“Plot covered by C of O B426 beacon: B5086; B5087; B5105; B5104; B5099 at Cadastral Zone B05, Utako.
“No: 16 Dabai Road, off Mangoro Road, Sokoto State.
“No. 13 Korau Road, Nasarawa District, Kano.
“Plot 965 Cadastral Zone C02, Gwarimpa, FCT, Abuja.”
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