A Federal High Court sitting in the Kano Division has convicted one Abdulrahman Sani Adam of the diversion of containers and forgery of official documents belonging to the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
In his judgement on the case, Justice Musa Sale of the Federal High Court, Kano, sentenced the convict to a total of three years in prison, with an option to pay a fine of ₦3 million.
Justice Sale further ordered that the diverted containers be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria for actioning.
It may be recalled that the convict, Abdulrahman Sani Adam, was earlier charged with criminal diversion and forgery.
The Director of Legal Services of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Smart Akande, who acted as prosecution counsel, said the convict’s actions deprived the Federal Government of revenue that should have been duly remitted.
Speaking to journalists at the court premises after the judgment, Akande remarked that the successful prosecution and sentencing were intended to serve as a deterrent to others involved in similar irregularities, including the diversion of customs-controlled containers and the bypassing of due procedures.
He expressed satisfaction with the judgment, noting that it was in line with the provisions of the law.
He also said that the judgment had reinforced the commitment of the Nigeria Customs Service against revenue leakages, document forgery, and other offences within the import-export chain.
