In a recent development at the Ogun State Area Command II of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), a bullion van that gained notoriety in 2022 for its involvement in smuggling activities has now been officially released. This revelation was made during a press briefing on Friday by Customs Area Controller Olusola Alade, who disclosed that the van, initially apprehended in April 2022 with 12 bags of 50kg smuggled foreign parboiled rice and a substantial sum of N24 million, has been returned to its rightful owners.
Formerly impounded for transporting the illicit rice, the bullion van, bearing the registration number FKJ 993 BZ and linked to an Abeokuta branch of Access Bank, has been at the center of a significant legal and investigative process. The NCS took swift action in response to the joint border patrol team’s interception along the Sokoto-Join/Joga road in the Abeokuta axis.
During the initial seizure, the Customs officials uncovered not only the concealed 12 bags of foreign parboiled rice but also an impressive N24.4 million in the bullion van. Both the cash and the vehicle were subsequently entrusted to Bankers Warehouse Ltd. and Access Bank in Abeokuta.
In his statement, Customs Area Controller Olusola Alade highlighted that the bullion van belonged to Bankers Warehouse and was seized on April 22, 2022. After thorough investigation, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, exercised compassion by ordering the release of both the bullion van and the money back to Bankers Warehouse and Access Bank.
Alade explained, “The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, has now ordered the release of the bullion van and the money to both the Bankers Warehouse and Access Bank on compassionate ground after investigation.” The Customs officials meticulously examined the seized vehicle, discovered the hidden money, and deposited it at the Abeokuta branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for safekeeping.
To adhere to the legal framework, the vehicle was detained, and the rice was converted to seizure under the provisions of Section 168 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023. In connection to these seizures, three suspects were arrested, detained, granted administrative bail, and subsequently charged to court for aiding smuggling, according to Alade.
Following the impoundment, Bankers Warehouse Ltd. and Access Bank submitted an appeal letter to the Customs’ Comptroller-General, seeking the release of both the bullion van and the money on compassionate grounds. After a thorough consideration of the investigation outcomes and recommendations, the Comptroller-General approved the release, aligning with the provisions of Section 248 (1) and (2) of the NCS Act, 2023.
This episode underscores the intersection of legal intricacies, financial complexities, and the enforcement of customs regulations in Nigeria. The compassionate release of the bullion van and the seized funds reflects the Customs’ commitment to a fair and just resolution in accordance with established legal provisions.
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