The Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has dismissed an allegation of extortion leveled against its officers by an American returnee, Oke Adhekegba.
In a statement released on Monday in Lagos, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Usman Abdul, said a comprehensive investigation had commenced to ascertain the veracity of the claims.
Comptroller Effiong Harrison, who heads the MMIA Command, disclosed that the passenger arrived aboard British Airways Flight BA-75 from London on Friday, May 16, 2025, at approximately 6:47 p.m., landing at the arrival hall D of the airport’s old terminal.
According to Harrison, Adhekegba was accompanied by ten pieces of luggage containing assorted items, which included 15 pairs of footwear, 22 bottles of perfume, 12 handbags, and various new clothing.
“These items were assessed at $1,948.15 upon proper valuation,” Harrison stated. “Using the prevailing exchange rate of ₦1,598.22, the value in naira amounted to ₦3,113,574.00.”
He further explained that based on the Nigeria Customs Service Act (NCSA) 2023, the applicable charges were calculated. These included the Comprehensive Import Supervision Scheme (CISS) charge, Import Duty, Surcharge (SUR), ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS) Levy, and Value Added Tax (VAT), all amounting to ₦1,000,004.00.
“The Duty Paid Value has since been duly remitted into the Federal Government’s coffers,” Harrison said, adding that a payment receipt had been attached to support the transaction.
The customs examination, he noted, was conducted by two officers: Chief Superintendent of Customs (CSC) K.O. Adebayo and Assistant Superintendent of Customs I (ASC I) C.C. Ugboma.
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While responding to the extortion claims, Harrison emphasized the NCS’s unwavering commitment to professionalism, transparency, and integrity.
“The MMIA Command does not condone unethical behaviour or compromise of standard operational procedures by its personnel or members of the travelling public,” he said.
He stressed that while the Command remains open to scrutiny and encourages constructive engagement from stakeholders, it equally expects full compliance with customs regulations.
Harrison noted that any breach of the law for personal gain would be met with strict enforcement of the provisions of the NCSA 2023.
“Duty must be paid on dutiable items as prescribed by law,” he added.
Reiterating the agency’s zero-tolerance stance on misconduct, the Comptroller assured the public of the Command’s dedication to facilitating legitimate trade and travel, while maintaining order and due process at all ports of entry.
