‘We Have No Official Report Of Sexual Molestation’ – Seme Customs Boss

BY FUNMI ALUKO

Seme Area Controller of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Comptroller Timi Bomodi  has shed light on a recent controversial allegation by the Economic Organization of  West African States (ECOWAS)  Committee  that accused officers operating within the Seme axis of sexually molesting female traders plying the route; noting that there has been no official report of such act which he describes as detestable and unacceptable.

While reeling out the command’s revenue generation and anti-smuggling scorecard between January to May 2024 during a press briefing Tuesday, Bomodi reacted to a recent newspaper report alleging acts of sexual harassment by the ECOWAS Committee, clarifying that the office of the NCS Seme has no official report of such misdemeanor by victims but vowed to bring the full weight of the law on any officer fingered to have engaged in such acts; describing it as reprehensible and unacceptable.

The Seme customs boss announced that flowing from the allegation, he has set up a complaint desk to assist victims of sexual harassment to make timely reports to enable the service take look into such matters with the aim of discouraging and bringing such to an end.

“The Command has also set-up a complaint desk to address issues concerning the molestation of females on this corridor. We strongly frown at any act endangering the health and well-being of the vulnerable population of border stake-holders who go about their normal and legitimate businesses daily.

“Stringent action shall be taken against any officer of any agency found guilty of molestation of any females on this corridor.”

The Seme Customs helmsman noted that the issue of the sexual harrasmment by the ECOWAS Committee was not really an agenda during their meeting but one that cropped up during interaction and which he considered as information sharing that the NCS  ordinarily would look into.

He lamented that inspite of various trans border trade issues that were discussed including the question of infrastructure, the ECOWAS Committee  merely picked on the allegation of sexual molestation, ignoring all other critical matters of importance.

“We had a meeting with the ECOWAS Committee that comprised of all members of ECOWAS countries and different agencies in this same hall, lovely meeting. We had very lengthy discussions concerning many things on our processes and procedures on the participation of customs and the functions of other agencies, how we went about them…what is the present existing infrastructure within the  joint border post and outside the joint border post; and so many other things.

“The issue was raised by a member of that committee who talked receiving report tha some women have been molested on this axis. l was hearing that for the first time and l told them so. Unfortunately when that their particular event came up in the news, every other things that we discussed, 95percent of every other thing that we discussed was ignored in favour of this. We have not heard any official report about such things here, by any stakeholder that they have been molested.  No woman has made such report, we only took the report of the  committee, it could be they have other channels of getting such report.

“But we are not making light of it, if that kind of thing exist we want to assure the users of this corridor that where incidents like that occur, we are more than willing to face them headon, we want to know where it occured, when it occured and the persons  that perpetrated it because it is cracy, it is really cracy that as law enforcement agents, we will be taking advantage of very vulnerable section of our population; especially those that are engaged in their daily businesses.

“We abhor that kind of practices and we assures members of the public that if any officer is found indulging in such act, that officer will be dealth with mercilessly.”

Meanwhile the command within the period under review collected a total sum of Two Billion, Six Hundred and Thirty Four Million, One Hundred and Ninety Thousand, Six Hundred and Forty Five Naira Fifty Three Kobo (N 2, 634, 190, 645.53) only in revenue.

According to Bomodi, the amount surpassed the collection made within the corresponding period of 2023 by 272%. In addition the command made 474 seizure which comprise of ten trailers of contraband rice, recovery of endangered wildlife species including 20 live parrots, 2 pelican birds, 404 live tortoises and 2 honey badgers.

Giving a breakdown of the command’s activities, Bomodi said, “I wish to once again welcome you all to Seme-Krake Joint Border Post, to brief you on the activities of the Command from January 2024 to Date.

“In compliance with the directive of the Comptroller-General of Customs that Commands give periodic reports of their activities to members of the public, and in the spirit of open governance, we at Seme-Krake Joint Border Post are delighted to present the successes recorded thus far this year.”

On revenue, he said: “The Command has continued to sustain the tempo in the area of revenue generation. In the period under review, we collected a total sum of Two Billion, Six Hundred and Thirty Four Million, One Hundred and Ninety Thousand, Six Hundred and Forty Five Naira Fifty Three Kobo (N 2, 634, 190, 645.53) only. This amount surpasses that of 2023 for the same period by 272%.

The Command also proved its mettle in the area of export trade processing a total of 143, 468 metric tons of export produce with free on board (FOB) value of ₦35, 199, 971. 097.7.

“The Command facilitated One Hundred and Forty-Three Thousand, Four Hundred and Sixty-Eight (143, 468) Metric Tonnes of export produce, with FOB value of Thirty-Five Billion, One Hundred and Ninety-Nine Million, Nine Hundred and Seventy-One thousand, Ninety-seven Naira Seven Kobo (₦35, 199, 971. 097.7) only which is equivalent to ($38, 461, 397.39). The NESS value paid is One Hundred and Seventy-Four Million, Five Hundred and Eighteen Thousand, Four Hundred and Sixty-Four Naira Eighty-Two Kobo (₦174, 518, 464.82) only. A total of Four Hundred and Six SGDs were utilized from January to May 26 2024 for export alone.”

Comptroller Bomodi said the command’s enforcement unit sustained it’s anti smuggling momentum in all nooks and crannies of the Command.

“This onslaught translated into Four Hundred and Seventy-Four (474) interception of various contraband items within the period” under review which includes the following items:

PMS: 12,448 Jerrycans x 30 liters each which is equivalent to eight (8) Tanker Loads; Rice: 6,467 Bags of 50kg, which is equivalent to 10 Trailer Loads; Vehicles: 15 used vehicles; and Cannabis: 1, 251parcels of cannabis sativa.

He observed an upward trend in the trafficking of narcotic substances through the Seme axis and warned that the axis will not be allowed to be used as a transit route for such illegitimate trade, including trading in endangered wild life species.

“We note that there has been a marked increase in the illegal importation of Cannabis from Ghana and different methods have been used by criminals in their effort to beat our officers all of which has been neutralized.”

He also announced the seizures of general merchandise which includes 3, 023 and comprise of 149 Packages codeine, 45 pieces of used tyres with a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of Eight Hundred and Forty Million, Three Thousand, Six Hundred and Forty-Six Naira (₦840, 003, 646.00) only.

Speaking further on the command’s activities, Bomodi said, “A total of Eighteen (18) suspects were arrested in connection with these seizures, Eleven (11) of them were granted administrative bails, three were handed over to NDLEA for further agency action, One was handed over to the Nigerian Police, while 4 suspects are still in our custody.

“Also recently arrested is a notorious smuggler whose reign of terror in this area has come to an end and will be made to face the full wrath of the law.”

He expressed appreciation to stakeholders including community leaders and sister agencies for their support and cooperation.

“We would like to appreciate the profound cooperation of other government agencies in ensuring the peace, safety and security of our borders. Special mention will be made of the effort of officers and men of the Nigerian Army, Air Force and Navy who have stood shoulder to shoulder with us in this battle.

“Their unwavering support is crucial and we applaud their patriotic effort.”