'10,000 Ghost workers on Customs payroll'
By Sule Lazarus, Snr Correspondent, Abuja

Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) under the administration of its immediate past Comptroller General, Jacob Buba Gyang, has been alleged to have harboured 10,000 ghost workers in its employ between 2005 and 2008.





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This is exactly half of the total staff strength of 20,000 the organisation claimed to have maintained up to April 2008.

Gyang was officially installed as the 'Gbong-Gwom Jos', the paramount ruler of Jos, at an elaborate ceremony at the weekend in the Plateau State capital.

It was also alleged that the Customs under him awarded several "over bloated and fictitious contracts" that ran into several billions of naira in defiance of due process and financial guidelines within the period.

The allegations were made by an independent fraud and crimes investigation outfit, Business Venture Watch, at the on-going House of Representatives Committee on Customs public hearing on the activities of the Customs.

Business Venture Watch's operation covers Customs and several other government agencies and corporations in relations to investigation of frauds, corruption and malpractices among others.

Making his presentation entitled, "The Decay and Massive Fraud in the Nigerian Customs Service, a Need for Urgent and Thorough Investigation", at the weekend, Kola Shola of Business Venture Watch, Lagos, also alleged that NCS was involved in various contract scams.

In the 18-paragraph sworn-affidavit with 25 annexure deposed to at the High Court of Lagos, the petitioner stated that "the NCS contracts for the supply of two new Bell Helicopters Model 427 configuration plus kit description auxiliary accessories, disassembly parking assembly, insurance and freight at a cost of $11,396,668.50 to Messrs Manyata Engineering Service Ltd, Abuja, and these helicopters are yet to be supplied to date".

It was also claimed in the affidavit that NCS paid consultancy fee of over N5.4 million to Messrs Metropolitan Consortium Nigeria Ltd for project supervision, contrary to Federal Government policy and guidelines.

The petition, which was accompanied supported by documents, also alleged that on February 21, 2008, the Customs awarded contract to Messrs DSU Capital Initiative Ltd, Abuja, for two Toyota Lexus Jeep 2007 Model LX 470 with all options and back-up spare parts at a cost of N42,900,000 (VAT inclusive).

The petitioner also claimed that the same contractor also got contract to supply two Toyota Prado Jeep 2007 Model (GX) with back-up spare parts at N26,340,000 on August 21, 2008.

Another example of bloated contract, it claimed, was the supply and installation of one 100KVA Perkins Sound Proof Generator for the NCS's Bauchi office at N8,980,500 (VAT inclusive).

The contract was awarded to Messrs Loss Reduction Service Nigeria Ltd, Abuja on February 21, 2008.

The petition said contract for the Customs Academy at Gwagwalada, Abuja was awarded at N280 million, but nothing was on the ground to show for the expenditure.

It also revealed that NCS Board under the management of Gyang awarded contract to refurbish Customs

aircraft that almost crashed a few weeks after in Katsina at N450 million.

The petitioner stated that N670 million was spent for the construction of aircraft hanger without due process, just as N480 million budgeted for and drawn for the construction of the Zaria Customs office cannot be accounted for.

He also alleged that customs

board/management within the period under review engaged in dirty importation and release of contrabands, prohibited items, including firearms, textile, shoes and furniture via containers.

The petitioner also claimed that the immediate past Comptroller-General failed to comply with the Federal Government directive to return unspent fund to the treasury.

http://odili.net/news/source/2009/may/18/702.html

Didn't the ghosts cash this check from a bank account?. This is capital fraud and a serious felony and if they are serious, they can track them down.

Chei! But it's not customs alone. If you add other agencies, the number will be over a million ghosts working and receiving salary all over the land long after they were buried.

The so-called Gbong Gwom should be arrested immediately.

Chei! But it's not customs alone. If you add other agencies, the number will be over a million ghosts working and receiving salary all over the land long after they were buried.

There was a similar report in Borno state some years ago about ghost workers from Chad receiving salary from the state govt.

what can I say? nigeria never change.

I bet you these ghost workers are cousins, nieces and nephews of the bigwigs in the customs. Some are dead relatives while others may even reside abroad. They also tried a thing like this with the NYSC.

Just wait and see.
Nothing will be done about this. the worst that will happen is that they will ask him to refund some cash and pay a small fine just like they did to that thief from Edo state.

Thats naija for you, and believe me, the petitioner may just be agrieved because they refused to cut him in on the deal