Customs Raids Katsina APC Chairman’s Firm, Seizes 20 Vehicles

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has raided the business premises of the All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman in Katsina State, Shittu S. Shittu, and seized about 20 vehicles.

About 1.30 a.m. yesterday, the NCS officials reportedly broke the gate of the premises and gained entrance to tow the vehicles away.

Located on the busy IBB Way in the state’s metropolitan area, the firm known as Maslaha Motors buys and sells cars.

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Last year, a similar incident occurred, in which several vehicles worth millions of naira, and suspected not to have valid particulars, were confiscated from the premises by NCS officials. It was subsequently put under lock and key by the NCS.

But speaking with newsmen yesterday, the company’s Managing Director, Shittu, alleged that seizure of the vehicles and closure of the premises was politically-motivated.

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He accused the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hamid Ali (rtd.), of being among those behind his predicament, adding that Ali left his statutory duties and dabbled into political issues.

“From what we have observed, the raid on our business premises by officials of the Nigeria Customs Service is politically motivated. The harassment and intimidation have been constant, and the raid came to us as a surprise, as some of the cars carted away have Customs duty.

“The customs boss is being misled by a military officer attached with the Customs. It is this military officer that is behind our predicament.”

The CG should remember that power is transient and in the next two years they will no longer be in power,” Shittu said.

However, Acting Area Controller of Customs, Katsina command, Dalha Wada, said the order to seize the vehicles came from above.

Wada said the seizure was done when it was discovered that the company had illegally moved 27 vehicles, which were initially confiscated, out of the business premises, adding that one of the seized vehicles would be returned to the company as it was later found to have genuine particulars.

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