The Nigerian Customs Service, yesterday, denied the claims that its men intercepted arms at the Nnamdi Azikwe Airport in Abuja, which was allegedly imported into the country by the Kogi state government. .
It could be recalled that the Senate had mandated Senator James Manager-led committee on political violence in the state to investigate the alleged arm importation.
The resolution followed a point of order raised by Senator Dino Melaye (APC), Kogi West, who drew the attention of the Senate to the development.
Speaking with Blueprint in Abuja, the Customs’ Public Relations Officer, Mr. Joseph Attah, said that the Service intercepted camouflage, boots and other materials, not arms as alleged.
“The imported materials were seized in the process because the agent could not produce the end user’s certificate”, Attah said, adding that failure to produce the documents might finally lead to the confiscation of the goods.
“It is not a new thing for some people to import military camouflage and some other materials into the country through the airport. The materials were detained because the agent did not have the end user’s certificate.
“The user’s certificate is a clearance usually issued from the office of the National Security Adviser to clear imported materials of that kind without which clearance cannot be made.
“So, our people for that reason detained the materials, saying until the certificate is seen, they will not release it.
“They even went ahead to issue him a detention notice that if he does not produce the end user’s certificate in thirty days, the materials would be seized”, Attah added.
