Ebeatu dismisses report of alleged Continued Extortion at Onne Customs Command

A chieftain of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents  and the immediate past chairman of Onne Seaport chapter ANLCA, Mr Mike Ebeatu has described as baseless, unwarranted, unfunded and figment of the author's imagination, of a publication by a Lagos based journalist purporting of an alleged   continued extortion of agents at Onne Customs Command. 

Speaking to  journalists in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital, last week, Ebeatu who said he would not have wasted his precious time commenting on the issue insisted that as a critical stakeholder who has worked closely with the Area controller, Onne Customs  Area 11 Command, Comptroller Mohammed Babandede, he would not hesitate to put the record straight so that the agents, importers, especially the gullibles  and the general public would not be deceived by those he referred to as self-serving and naysayers who are hell bent on tarnishing the hard earned reputation, uprightness and integrity of Comptroller, Babandede and his officers and men who  have fought hard to reposition Onne customs in terms of Revenue generation, Trade facilitation, anti-smuggling, proper documentation and strict adhere to Customs import and export procedures. 

 Ebeatu noted that the claim by National Compliance Joint Taskforce of Licensed Clearing Agents- (NCJTFLCA) on allegations of continued corruption and mindless extortion at Onne Port in River State is “baseless, unfounded, misleading and a calculated attempt to  disparage the good conduct, integrity, high ethical standards and robust trade facilitation created by the respected Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Mohammed Babandede.

 He however, insisted that ” the said Association is nonexistent and existed only in the author's  figment of imagination aimed to gain cheap publicity and relevance.”

 Speaking further, the former Chairman, Association of  Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, Onne seaport chapter, reiterated  “Since assumption of office as the Customs Area Controller,  Comptroller Mohammed Babandede, has sounded it loud and clear that the adherence and enforcement of fiscal policies and procedures shall be pursued vigorously and he immediately engaged all stakeholders and associations at Onne seaport in an all inclusive interactive forum on a regular bases to drive home the need and importance of due process and compliance at all times.”

 “The so called allegations is from faceless and brief case association which doesn’t exist” Ebeatu posited.

 “The stakeholders contributions and serious engagement have positively impacted on the operations of Customs Area 11, Command Onne, under the able  Comptroller, Mohammed Babandede."

 "The synergy built since he assumed office and constant collaboration with other sister government agencies at the ports, have  given the command leverage over the non compliant and recalcitrant  agents even  as such has resulted in the mind boggling seizures of Arms and ammunition and unwholesome and Illicit drugs worth billions of Naira recorded at the Command" He said. 

 " On the issue of revenue generation, the Command has constantly surpassed its revenue target and am wondering why the Area Controller who has won numerous awards especially for his anti- smuggling  posture should be exposed to such public odium because somebody is looking for cheep popularity" 

 He added,   “To foster and maintain the increasing high target of the command, the controller has given opportunities to diligent officers to aspire to greater heights as they go out of their ways to discover hidden items concealed by the dare- devil smugglers.” 

Ebeatu opined that the  unassuming, pragmatic and result oriented Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Mohammed Babandede, has vigorously  adhered to and enforced  the policy thrust of the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi MFR  on revenue generation, trade facilitation and suppression of smuggling among others. 

 He however, advised those complaining of increase in clearing tariffs to utilize a  constructive engagement so as to carry out their jobs as according to him customs must as a matter of policy trust adhere to the directives of the Ministry of Finance on  revenue collection.

By: Bon Peters

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