From Desmond Mgboh, Kano
The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hamid Ali (retd), has approved the release of the 11 Hilux Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) belonging to an unnamed Kano Senator, which were detained months ago for duties-related offence.
The Comptroller, Kano/Jigawa State Command of the Nigerian Customs Service, Alhaji Yusuf Abba-Kassim, disclosed this during a press briefing at the weekend
The controversial 11 SUVs were taken into custody by the Customs Service in the heat of the face-off between the Senate and the leadership of the Service. The Comptroller explained that the owner of the SUVs had approached the Comptroller General, who, in the exercise of his discretional powers, considered and approved their release after the approved duties had been paid on them.
While declining to reveal the identity of the owner, the Customs boss disclosed that in this light, the owner of the vehicles had paid a total of N19 million as duties through a clearing agent and had, last week, taken custody of his vehicles. Comptroller Yusuf Abba-Kassim equally announced that four other SUVs of similar brand were impounded along Kano/Katsina Expressway.
Meanwhile, Kano/Jigawa Command has generated a total sum of N5.96 billion representing 59.3 % of their target in the last six months.