Bizman accuses Customs of alleged extortion 

AN Ughelli based businessman, Olorogun Johnny Esike, has accused men of Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, stationed at the Ekiadolor axis of Benin-Ore express road of allegedly impounding a gas tank he imported into the country and allegedly demanding N.5 million for the release of the tank.

Meanwhile, the Service has denied the allegation. Olorogun Esike, who is Managing Director, Sykes Energiprojects Limited, explained that he had cleared the gas tank measuring 45 cubic meter capacity and was transporting it to Ughelli, Delta State, from Lagos, when the customs operatives impounded it at Ekiadolor, Edo State. He said:

When I demanded to know why the tank was seized, they told us that the tank was undervalued in Lagos and they were now demanding N500,000 as bribe to release it to us. “I refuse to part with that kind of money and they have been holding the tank since last week.”

Denying the claims, an operative of the service who spoke on condition of anonymity when contacted, admitted the impounding of the tank but denied claims that operatives demanded N500, 000 from him. He said: “It is totally false. But you can contact the Owerri head office for more clarifications on the tank. He (businessman) needs to go and pay for the proper valuation of the tank.”  Vanguard