Customs disproves e- auction fraud allegation, says N400, 000 remains minimum price

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The Nigeria Customs Service has disproved as unfounded and an orchestrated mischievous act, the allegation of monumental Stealing and underhand dealings level against Customs Auction Committee including their Plans To dispose-off Overtime Containers.
The service wonders how a token sum of N10,000 would be allowed for payment of any of the vehicles on the e- auction when a minimum of N400,000 has been pegged for vehicles on auction, stating that such was indeed misleading and misrepresentation of fact.

Maiwada

In a statement signed by Abdullahi Maiwada, the National Public Relations Officer(NPRO) of the service made available to Nation Update, the Customs expressed sadness over the attempt by some disgruntled elements to cast aspersions on the credibility of the exercise.

The customs spokesperson enumerated as thus:“Regarding the allegation that over 300 vehicles have been auctioned to just one individual via the e-auction window after purported underhand payments, we wish to state that this is entirely false, misguided, and spurious. Furthermore, suggesting that a token sum of N10,000 is collected as duties to the Federal Government on the e-auction window, which has a reserved price of N400, 000 is indeed misleading and misrepresentation of fact.”

Maiwada continued,, “From the data generated upon completing five successful bidding windows, 13,605 applicants registered in five windows on our e-auction portal, where 476 vehicles were uploaded, and 462 won. Also, the government realized N556,738,736 as revenue. It begs the question of where the allegations are coming from.

“We wish to reaffirm our commitment to transparency, accountability, and adherence to the rule of law in all our activities. We urge members of the public to join the service with the common goal of promoting an inclusive system that is fair to all Nigerians, irrespective of their status.

He expressed displeasure over allegations against a process that designed to provide a level playing ground for all Nigerians.

According to him, the NCS is a law-abiding government organization dedicated to maintaining the most outstanding levels of accountability and transparency in all its activities and taking any accusations of improper behaviour seriously.

“We wish to categorically deny involvement in fraudulent activities or underhand dealings in the e-auctioning of vehicles or other goods. The NCS Auction Committee operates within the confines of the law and adheres strictly to established guidelines and procedures for disposing of seized/overtime goods, ” he submitted