The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Offenses Commission, has disclosed that it auctioned two 20 footer containers of samples of items seized from officials of government agencies undertaking physical examination at the Tin-can Island Port.
The National Coordinator of the Port Standing Task Team,Moses Fadipe, made this known at a meeting with stakeholders at Apapa port over the effective usage of the scanner at the port.
Fadipe had admonished the stakeholders of the consequences of collecting samples from consignments for physical examination without approval, stating that anyone caught with samples without the necessary approval would be penalized.
Reports revealed that the two containers were filled with different items taken illegally from importers at Tin-can port by officials of the various government agencies involved in physical examinations at the port.
It was learnt that officials of the PSTT at the port had caught officials of the Nigeria Customs Service, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Police and others that collected samples during physical examination even when they do not have the authority to do so.
It was also gathered that the seized sample items were taken and stored in the containers waiting for the agents or the owners to come and collect them, but nobody came to claim it and they were consequently handed over to ICPC for auction.
While commenting on illegal collection of samples at the nation’s seaports, Fadipe noted that officials of PSTT have been posted to Apapa port, stating that they have gotten report of junior officials of these government agencies collecting sample of items on behalf of senior officers.
