Ondo/Ekiti Customs Command Refutes Extortion Claims, Pledges Integrity Under New Leadership
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ondo/Ekiti Area Command, has dismissed allegations of extortion levelled against its officers in a video circulating on social media, assuring stakeholders of its unwavering commitment to professionalism and integrity under its newly appointed Area Controller, Comptroller Queen Obaze.
The video, purportedly shared by auto dealers from the South-West region, claimed that Customs officers extorted the sum of one million naira during a routine encounter.
However, in a statement issued on Monday, the Command described the claim as misleading and clarified the circumstances surrounding the incident.
According to preliminary investigations, the auto dealers in question were en route to Ekiti State for a regional meeting and were not intercepted by Customs officers. Instead, they voluntarily stopped to engage with the officers who were carrying out their constitutional duties.
The Command further explained that the one million naira referenced was linked to an assessment for underpayment, which was legally raised and subsequently remitted into the Federal Government’s treasury.
In its bid to ensure transparency, the Command has since engaged representatives of the Auto Dealers Association to resolve the matter.
During the meeting, the Association apologised to the Service, while the Command assured stakeholders that new measures were being instituted to streamline operations and prevent future misunderstandings that could be misconstrued as misconduct.
The statement also announced the assumption of office by Comptroller Queen Obaze as the new Customs Area Controller for Ondo/Ekiti. Described as an officer with a wealth of experience and a proven reputation for integrity, Obaze is expected to steer the Command towards greater transparency and accountability, in line with the vision of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR.
To consolidate public trust and improve service delivery, the new Controller has approved additional training programmes for officers, focusing on operational engagement, enforcement procedures, reputation management, and stakeholder relations.
These initiatives, the Command emphasised, are designed to enhance compliance, deepen professionalism, and strengthen the relationship between Customs and the public.
The Command also encouraged stakeholders to utilise established channels for lodging complaints or grievances, warning against hasty conclusions based on unverified social media claims.
It reaffirmed its resolve to discharge its statutory responsibilities with fairness, integrity, and strict adherence to the rule of law.
The statement was signed by Aondoakura Dzungwenen, Superintendent of Customs and Public Relations Officer for the Ondo/Ekiti Area Command, on 15 September 2025.
