72-year-old man seeks Tinubu’s intervention over seized goods

• Customs denies allegations

A 72-year-old American returnee, Olukayode David-Albert has sought the intervention of President Bola Tinubu and concerned authorities over his goods currently in the custody of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
  

“The luxurious 2024 Hyundai SUV attracts an import duty rate of 20per cent, a levy of 20per cent, and a VAT of 7.5per cent, as stipulated by Nigeria’s customs regulations. The total duty value for the two vehicles was assessed at N34,969,374.00, which is significantly lower than the N53.5 million, Mr David-Albert alleged as a ‘compromise’ amount,” the statement read.
 
The Command also refuted the claim that any officer demanded N76 million,  and urged Mr. David-Albert to provide evidence if he had details of misconduct.
  
But narrating his ordeal, he said: “I returned to Nigeria on September 17, 2024, and my container arrived at Lekki, Lagos on October 3, and was discharged on October 3, 2024, but I was told that my container could not be located until October 27, 2024.  I received another information that my container had been taken to the Libra terminal in Ikorodu, thus the commencement of clearing the container was delayed for almost a month.
 
“To my surprise, I was told that if I refused to offer the officers some money, the customs valuation office would not process the required forms for the payment of the duty on my container, and they may eventually claim that my container is not cleared within the statute of limitation and thereby auction my property.
 
“I want to do the right thing, but some people are circumventing it, they plan to auction my goods, but they are now trying to punish me now that they are aware that their secret has been leaked.”
 
“Most Nigerians abroad are afraid of coming home due to the situation of the country. They prefer to stay out there instead of coming back home to assist the nation,” he added.