SaharaReporters has learned that the Nigerian Senate’s current war against the leadership of the Nigerian Customs Service has its roots in the fact that Customs officials seized a bulletproof Range Rover Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) owned by Senate President Bukola Saraki.

Our investigators discovered that Nigerian Customs officers in Lagos had on January 11, 2017, intercepted and impounded a Range Rover SUV which carried documents that claimed its chassis number was “SALGV3TF3EA190243.” Customs sources told our correspondent that the value of the car was N298 million, which meant that customs duty of N74 million should have been paid on the car.
At the interception of the car, its driver claimed that the vehicle belonged to the Senate President and presented a letter from the National Assembly liaison office in Lagos, indicating that the driver of the luxury vehicle was authorized to drive the Senate President’s official Range Rover bulletproof car.

Our sources disclosed that when asked to show evidence of duty payment and an end-user certificate from the office of the National Security Adviser—a document required for bulletproof vehicles—the driver presented documents that were found to be fake. The reportedly fake documents provided by the driver indicated that a measly customs duty of N8 million was paid on the car. Customs officials said that, apart from the fact the customs duty was extremely low, they also determined that the presented document itself was fake. They consequently seized the vehicle.

Later the same day, January 17, 2017, the Senate sent a letter signed by one Architect O.A. Ojo acting as the Secretary of Procurement, Estate, and Works of the National Assembly, requesting the release of the vehicle, which he claimed belonged to the convoy of the "Senate". In its response, the Nigerian Customs sent a letter signed by its Othman, A.S. Comptroller, Import and Export, the letter dated January 24 2017, again requested for the end user certificate as well as evidence of proper clearance before the vehicle could be released. Neither Mr. Saraki nor the National Assembly provided the required documents.

Investigations by SaharaReporters showed that the documents used by Mr. Saraki and the National Assembly to clear the car impounded by the Nigerian Customs might not belong to the vehicle or was outrightly forged. In addition, Senator Saraki and the National Assembly apparently undervalued the car by more than 50% to enable them to avoid paying proper customs duty. When our investigators checked on the website of Range Rover, they discovered that the vehicle whose paperwork was being used to drive the impounded car from Lagos to Abuja was manufactured in the UK in 2014. The price tag on that car was $142,000, but the importer gave the value as $64,516. The exchange rate at the time of car importation was N155 to $1. Curiously, the Customs officials that cleared the car passed it off as a "used" car, although the car was cleared in March 2103 customs papers clearly stated it was a 2014 car, which clearly meant it was a brand new car that should have attracted higher duty.

Shortly after the seizure of the car, the Nigerian Senate mounted a vigorous attack on the Nigerian Customs Service, demanding that the agency stops any further efforts to confiscate vehicles found to have evaded payment of duties. The senators also summoned the Comptroller-General of Customs, Hameed Ali, to appear before the Senate. In the letter of invitation, the senators specified that Mr. Ali, a retired Army Colonel, must wear the official Customs uniform when he appeared before them. Mr. Ali has so far refused to heed the order to wear the Customs uniform.

Customs sources told SaharaReporters that the shady practice of importing vehicles meant for personal use with fake documents was widespread among Nigerian public officials, especially senators. The sources suggested that the attempt by Mr. Ali to check the practice had provoked the ferocious attacks against the Customs Service and its leadership. “Some highly placed Nigerians have for many years been evading the payment of proper duties on their imported luxury cars. They want to continue to get away with their habit which denies Nigerians a lot of revenues,” a senior official of the Customs Service claimed.
The Senate has forced Mr. Ali and the Nigerian Customs to suspend the policy of checking automobiles to ensure compliance with appropriate levels of duty. The senators’ stance has been popular with Nigerians who view the Customs as a pest on businessmen and women. However, our investigative findings also expose the fact that the attacks on the Customs have been inspired, and often led, by high profile Nigerians implicated in the use of fake customs papers to import cars and other luxury items into the country.

http://saharareporters.com/2017/03/18/senate-vengeance-after-nigerian-customs-seized-senator-saraki’s-bulletproof-range-rover

I always knew something was behind the Senate order to Hammeed Ali to put on his custom uniform before he would be allowed to seek audience with them.So this is their own way to get back and humiliate him publicly,they want to take their own pound of flesh now i guess...They re a bunch of toothless bulldogs and nothing would happen should he fail to appear before them in his uniform still,let us see who blinks first in this our waiting game....

I know saraki and the rogues in the harlot chamber are anti masses.

They wouldn't have taken the side of the masses if it favors them

Hmmm no wonder!!!

That stupid policy would have affected the common man more ..Go figure

Investigative journalism!

I have nothing to say

This will not save Hameed Alli! Saraki was not in Nigeria the last time hameed Alli appeared in the Senate chambers...
How does this explain the CG's refusal to wear his uniforms as requested by the lawmakers....
How does this explain his obvious disdain and arrogant attitude towards the institution of the national assembly?
All these are after thoughts.... He should thread carefully​....
Even if this is true.... How many customs officials have been tried and jailed for the obvious economic crime....
The custom boss should explain how 661 pump action rifles were cleared under its nose in Lagos! If anyone underpaid.....A custom official must be in collusion with the criminal..... An economic crime has been committed therein!

Anyway believe the customs at your own peril.... I paid thousands of Naira inside the mile2 terminal for a mistake in the writing of my chassis number...And they made it clear that they don't care if the owner is aggrieved or not ... Jazzman or not as they themselves are devils sitting at the T-junction for sacrifices​.... Customs Kwa .... I spit on them.... Police is better!

One thing I know APC is for is propaganda and blackmail.

Why should anyone be paying such an high amount for a vehicle when we have no manufacturing company in Nigeria. Are we that daft? They have simply created a snuggling avenue.

Secondly, is the DG of custom beyond the Senate that he disrespect them anyhow ? Will the uniform of the agency he respresents and head kill him? Ego fight

Hmmmm we have a long way to go

is there anything in this government tbat isn't about settling scores??

from buhari on dasuki
to ngige actually being a minister or uncle lie
to saraki vs customs

But some fools lined behind the corrupt SP and his lowly crass of buffoons. While they hopd from one rickety car to another they defend fools driving cars at the expense of Nigerian revenue collection.

vedaxcool:
But some fools lined behind the corrupt SP and his lowly crass of buffoons. While they hopd from one rickety car to another they defend fools driving cars at the expense of Nigerian revenue collection.

Thank you my brother. Many Nigerians are gullible, not ready to think for themselves or blinded by ethnicity or religion...

I am not hurt by what senators are doing. I am hurt because we Nigerians have not been able to take the country from their hands through our feedback and raised opinion on how we want it to be done.

Yet many idi*ts will come out of their poverty stricken rooms to shout solidarity for these thieves...

Ok we've heard but the problem is why should the sin of the political class be visited on innocent Nigerians that went to car stand to buy car with his hard earned money. Dealers and custom officers that issued fake custom clearance are suppose to be the taget, they should be investigated and brought to book.
So because Saraki refuse to pay duty on his over 200million car, my 680thousand honda bullet will now be impounded by Custom?

Sarathief is at it again. I don't know why he normally embarrass himself and d hollow chamber to say that the senate is definitely in support of fighting corruption; but that of ALI wearing Custom Uniform, i totally support it otherwise he resign.

engrfcuksmtin:
Ok we've heard but the problem is why should the sin of the political class be visited on innocent Nigerians that went to car stand to buy car with his hard earned money. Dealers and custom officers that issued fake custom clearance are suppose to be the taget, they should be investigated and brought to book.
So because Saraki refuse to pay duty on his over 200million car, my 680thousand honda bullet will now be impounded by Custom?

But bro y u go goo car stand go buy car wey papers no complete (custom duty papers) with all d education u no go fit differenciat btw fake and real papers bro no excuse jare na u fall mugu for car dealers and currupt customs. Let's do the rite ting for once

zeestunner:


But bro y u go goo car stand go buy car wey papers no complete (custom duty papers) with all d education u no go fit differenciat btw fake and real papers bro no excuse jare na u fall mugu for car dealers and currupt customs. Let's do the rite ting for once

What is the right thing? Which platform did Nigeria customs create to confirm originality of papers? So buying car from a legitimate dealer with registered bussiness premisis is falling mugu? Which education makes you differientiate between original and fake papers? Bet you've not seen both before? For crying out loud is it not insane that nobody talks about the fradulent dealers and custom officers? If you are talking about the right thing then lets call for the investigation and prosecution of those that are insuing those fake papers, the right thing is that the government should protect.