VASWANI BROTHERS: EFCC summons ex-Customs boss - Yar’Adua to receive report on Indian businessmen today - Commission may confiscate their properties to offset N3bn duties
Lanre Adewole, Abuja
Monday, March 30, 2009
FORMER Comptroller-General of Customs, Buba Gyang, has been invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), over the Vaswani brothers case. The Vaswani brothers were accused by the EFCC of defrauding the Federal Government to the tune of N3billion


Two comptrollers of customs, Hanatu Suleiman and Johnson Olufemi-Taylor were arrested last week over alleged complicity in a N3 billion customs duties scam, involving the Vaswani brothers. A source in the commission told the Nigerian Tribune that the Vaswani brothers had duty waivers from the Federal Government till October 2008. But the rice they imported in November last year was also given the waiver.



The source said the two comptrollers of customs that were arrested told the commission that the waiver was given on the orders of Gyang.



Gyang is expected to explain why the waiver was given to the Vaswani brothers after the one given them by the Federal Government expired in October.



Suleiman and Taylor were arrested in Lagos last week and were moved to Abuja where they are being detained and interrogated.



Suleiman and Olufemi — Taylor are in charge of the Apapa Wharf. Commission’s spokesperson, Mr. Femi Babafemi confirmed the arrests.

Sources close to the commission revealed to the Nigerian Tribune that a report on the activities of the Vaswani brothers will be presented to President Umaru Yar’Adua today.



It was gathered that the EFCC is considering confiscating the properties of the Vaswani brothers to offset the N3 billion custom duties.



The EFCC, it was learnt, has already obtained a court order to arrest and detain the Vaswanis throughout the month of April.



Commission’s chairman, Mrs. Farida Waziri, while declaring the Vaswani brothers wanted last week, vowed that all those connected with the alleged fraud would be dealt with.



She fingered top customs officers in the matter, while revealing that about five persons had been arrested.



The arrest of the comptrollers, according to a source, was the commencement of what could turn out to be a full blown probe of the agency.



Farida had accused the Vaswani brothers of defrauding the Nigerian government to the tune of N3 billion, adding that public officers, particularly custom officers, who aided them in perpetrating the alleged economic sabotage, would face the music.



According to her, “the actual brothers are based in Europe. They are two. They are out to destroy the economy of this country. They believe they can have their way because it is believed that Nigeria is a corrupt country.



“Whosoever is involved would be dealt with decisively. The Vaswani brothers are wanted by the commission. We have about five others in custody in connection with this. We got to know through intelligence gathering.”



She added that “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is investigating Stallion Group of Companies and the Vaswani brothers, who are the owners of the company. The Vaswani brothers have been engaging in activities that are inimical to the economy.



“Recently, they defrauded the Federal Government of Nigeria of the sum of N3 billion through their business outfits. The fraud was through underpayment of customs duties while importing rice into the country.


The company, the Stallion Group, has been doing business in Nigeria and the scope of their business involved commodities and sales of automobiles. In 2003 the commission investigated the company and this led to the deportation of the Vaswani brothers by the Federal Government.



“However, their companies were allowed to carry on business in Nigeria. In 2007, they were allowed back into Nigeria after several appeals. However, recent investigations show clearly that they have continuously and consistently perfected the art of underpayment of custom duties due to the Federal Government.”

source plz