• Alleges N250,000 Extortion In Ekiti
A media expert and consultant, Alhaji Dauda Lawal has raised the alarm over alleged persistent harassment and extortion of travellers by operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service in Ekiti State.
Lawal in a petition addressed to the member House of Representatives, Akintunde Rotimi JR, representing Ekiti North 1 (Ikole/Oye) Federal Constituency and copy obtained by RAYOPOST, revealed that customs operatives allegedly extorted N250,000 from his son along Ifaki-Ido-Ekiti road on March 27,2025 over vehicle documents.
He explained that the activities of the operatives along major highways, car lots and hotels in the state is a blatant disregard for rights of the citizens, calling for the intervention of the lawmaker and the National Assembly to the nefarious acts of customs.
The petition reads, ” I humbly write this to express my strong objection to the persistent and unacceptable harassment of motorists by operatives of the Ekiti/Akure division of the Nigeria Custom Service. This egregious behavior is not only a blatant disregard for the rights of citizens but also a stark reminder of the need for urgent intervention by lawmakers like yourself.
” As a federal agency, the Nigeria Customs Service has a duty to patrol the borders and prevent illegal goods from entering the country. However, over the years, the NCS has become notorious for raiding hotels and car lots to impound cars without proper documentation. This controversial culture has now extended to the highways, where operatives mount illegal checkpoints, particularly around Ekiti State, and extort motorists under the guise of examining vehicle duty payment papers.
” I have personally fallen victim to this notoriety, and on March 27th, 2025, my son suffered the same fate at the hands of the Custom officials. On that day, I sent my mechanic to help bring my son from Ilorin with one of my vehicles. On their way back to Ado Ekiti, they encountered Customs officials who had staged a roadblock at a bad portion of the Ifaki/Ido road, stopping vehicles and extorting money from motorists.
” According to the driver’s account, the Customs men requested the custom papers of the vehicle and later claimed that the import duties paid were short of about N5 million, threatening to impound the car if the money wasn’t paid. Despite the vehicle being legally cleared within the Nigerian Port with all custom papers duly paid for and signed, my son and the driver were delayed and harassed. The Customs officials initially demanded N500,000, which was later reduced to N250,000, insisting on cash payment only.
” All attempts to reason with the Customs officials over the phone were rebuffed. My son and the driver were delayed until they found a POS transaction to convert the N250,000 I sent to cash. To add insult to injury, their phones were forcefully collected and thoroughly searched to ensure they did not take any pictures of the Customs officials.
” This blatant disregard for citizens’ rights and dignity is unacceptable and must be addressed. As a concerned citizen and constituent, I implore you to use your office to investigate this matter and bring an end to this harassment. The Nigeria Customs Service must be held accountable for their actions, and citizens must be protected from such abuse.
” The court judgments against the custom authority standing or putting roadblocks on the highway in 2013, 2015, 2019, 2021, and 2024 are clear indications that this issue has been ongoing for far too long. It is time for decisive action to be taken to address this menace.
” I look forward to hearing from you soon and learning about the steps you will take to address this issue.”
