Customs vows to sanction officer for assaulting Okowa’s aide

The Nigeria Customs Service has vowed to punish its officer for assaulting Samson Nwachukwu, the Special Adviser to the Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa.

The Star had earlier reported that the customs officer slapped Nwachukwu, following an altercation that ensued between the governor’s aide and the operative along the Benin/Agbor Expressway on Saturday.

It was learnt that the governor’s aide was driving with a friend when he was stopped by two customs officers and a soldier.

In the video obtained by The Star, an argument ensued between Nwachukwu and the customs officer before he proceeded to slap the governor’s aide.

However, the Nigeria Customs Service, while reacting to the incident via a statement issued on Monday by its spokesperson, DC Timi Bomodi, said the officers involved in the assault on Governor Okowa’s aide have since been withdrawn from patrol duties and are currently under administrative investigation.

The NCS condemned the assault on Nwachukwu, saying it would not hesitate to punish officers found culpable of breaching the agency’s rules.

The statement read: “The attention of the Nigeria Customs Service has been drawn to a video making the rounds on social media. In it, one of our officers was recorded assaulting an unarmed civilian. This action took place on the Benin-Agbor expressway on Saturday the 7th of May 2022 at about 5.00 pm.

READ ALSO: VIDEO: Customs officer slaps Governor Okowa’s aide

“This officer and other members of that team from FOU Zone ‘C’ have since been withdrawn from patrol duties and are currently under administrative investigation at the NCS Zonal Headquarters Zone ‘C’ Port Harcourt.

“Officers of the Nigeria Customs Service have been trained to carry out their duties with dignity and respect, and are expected to display decorum in all their conduct at all times.

“Where they fail to carry out their brief as assigned, appropriate sanctions are applied to enforce discipline.

“The NCS would like to reassure the general public of its commitment to the welfare and safety of all citizens and frowns seriously at any act by its personnel capable of misrepresenting its corporate image.

“We ask that all law-abiding persons go about their activities without fear of intimidation or harassment as we work assiduously to bring closure to this unwholesome incident,” the NCS stated.

The Star