Customs has no intention to raid hotels- DC Attah
.Says the Service working for interest of Nigerians
By Silas Onuoha
DC Attah
“Our operatives never infringed on the rights and comfort of guests in Abuja hotel”.
These were the words of the National Public Relations Officer, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), DC Joseph Attah in a press release made available to Daily Business Update, on Customs visit to Frazier hotel, Abuja.
DC Attah said that the allegation against Customs operatives raiding a hotel in Abuja is false and should be ignored by the public.
His assertions: “The attention of NCS has been drawn to misinformation concerning visit of our operatives to Abuja hotel to remove suspected smuggled vehicles.
“Our Operatives, relying on intelligence that owners of some exotic cars, including bullet proof vehicles without duty payment quickly removed their vehicles from car mart and took same to Frazier hotel in Abuja.
“Our operatives visited the facility and engaged the manager professionally.
“On arrival at the hotel, our operatives interacted with the manager and eventually left with four vehicles, leaving six behind, while expecting the manager to provide the keys to the cars left behind.
“The manager that morning gave a written undertaking to produce Customs with vehicles duty payment documents, to support his claim that the cars were not smuggled.
“We assured him of prompt release of the vehicles, as soon as evidence of appropriate duty payments are presented.
“Unfortunately, we woke up to mischievous misrepresentation of an otherwise professional engagement with the manager that had nothing to do with the guests in the hotel.
“Some even went as far as saying that the operatives went from room to room, waking up guests to come out for vehicles verification. NCS did not do such thing and has no intention to start raiding hotels.
“While advising Nigerians to be wary of some social media posts, we urge members of the public to ignore such fabrication, as NCS will continue to work in the interest of Nigerians”.
