By Adesina Soyooye
The Nigerian Customs Service has reacted to a damaging viral video of its officers manhandling a Lawyer who had gone to its Headquarters in Abuja on behalf of a Client.
In the video, at least four officers were seen rough-handling the Lawyer, pushing and forcing him into a detention cell.
As they did that, somebody, apparently, who came with the Lawyer was heard asking them why they would detain him, telling them: “He is a Lawyer, now, he didn’t do anything.”
The Lawyer and two others had gone there in respect of a Client’s car which was seized by the Customs.
But in a statement released in Abuja on Wednesday, February 23, 2022, signed by its Public Relations Officer, Deputy Comptroller, Timi Bomadi, the NCS said the incident was not a recent one. It said it happened in September 2021, and said the Lawyer was unruly.
Following is the full text of NCS’s reaction to the incident which has sparked outrage, and attracted absolute condemnation against it.
“The attention of the Nigeria Customs Service has been drawn to a video that has gone viral on social media. This incident occured at Customs Headquarters Abuja on the 9th of September 2021. The individual being restrained in this video is a lawyer who came to represent a client whose car a 2013 Lexus ES350 was seized by our operatives in one of our sting operations.
“On the day in question the lawyer was admitted into Customs Headquarters in the company of two other lawyers, one of whom was his client. On being ushered into the investigation unit, they were requested to produce either the detention or seizure notice for the vehicle in question. This is a document issued to owners of goods seized or detained by Customs. It shows among other things, who made the seizure or detention, the item itself, where and from whom it was detained or seized. It is required as part of the Standard Operating Procedure for purposes of investigation to ascertain the real owner of goods detained or seized to avoid misrepresentations sequel to documentation and the taking of statements.
“The request of the investigating officer was met with a negative response by the lawyers who insisted that the investigating officer took his statement regardless of this fundermental breach in procedure. All attempts to explain the position of the Service in this regard was meet with vehemence and contempt. This left the investigating officer with no option but to demand their exit from his office as their continued presence consistituted an obstruction of duty contravening section 11, subsection (a) & (b) of the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) especially when he had other persons to attend to. It was the unruly behavior of this lawyer at the investigation unit that called for him to be restrained and removed as clearly evidenced in the video. In restraining this lawyer, absolute care was taken to ensure that he came to no personal harm. Indeed his attitude was clearly at variance with that of his two other colleagues as he failed to comport himself in the manner beffiting of his noble profession.
“The Nigeria Customs Service holds legal practitioners and indeed all Nigerians in high regard. Our Legal Department is managed by a crop of distinguished lawyers whose invaluable contributions continues to stand the NCS in good stead. At no time did we contemplate disrespect for the institution of Justice or those who represent it. As a law enforcement Agency our procedures and processes are designed to ensure administrative and operational efficiency and effectiveness. We enjoin members of the public to respectfully abide by them anytime they have businesses to conduct with us. We thank all Nigerians for their understanding.”
