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Customs intercepts PMS, expired drugs worth N723.3m in Ogun, Oyo

Published

5 years ago

October 24, 2021

The Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone ‘A’ of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has seized 856 Jerrycan of PMS at 25 litres each and contraband products worth over N723.3 million between September and October 2021.

Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos on Friday, the acting customs area controller, Zone A, ag. Compt. Hussein Ejibunu, said the contraband was intercepted at Igbo-Ora, Oyo State.

He said, ” I welcome to you all to the Headquarters of FOU ‘A’, Ikeja, for another round of my Press briefing today, Friday 22nd October, 2021, barely a month after the maiden edition on assumption of office.

According to Ejibunu, “the mandate of FOU ‘A’ as a critical enforcement arm of the Service, particularly in the South West Zone, cannot be overemphasized.

“Besides stemming the tide of smuggling in the Zone, the Unit stands as a Police providing the much needed security to other Customs Area Commands across the Zone, there is also the implementation of Government Fiscal Policies, Facilitation of Legitimate Trade and inter Agency function.

Ejibunu further revealed that the aforementioned seizures were effected at different flash points in the Zone prominent among them being Ado-Odo, Idogo, Sokoto-Ijoun, Ohunbe, Ilaro, Atan, Abeokuta/Sagamu Interchange, Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State, Iseyin, Igboora, Igbeti in Oyo State, Gbaji, Agbara in Ogun State and of course the creeks.

“Here is the list of 28 seizures made in the last three weeks which include 8,000 bags of smuggled rice of 50kg, 1,419 jerrycans of vegetable oil, 1,301 bales and 128 sacks of secondhand clothing, 233 bundles of wrapper, 621 cartons of expired medicaments, 635 cartons of wine, and 1,046 pieces of used tyres.

“Others are 21 cartons of cutlasses at 60 pieces each, 531 pieces of used compressor, 986 cartons of chocolate biscuit , 229 wraps (114.5kg) of Cannabis sativa (indian hemp) 8561errycan of PMS at 25 litres each, 1,516 cartons of frozen poultry products, 751 pieces of AAA cartridges (70MM) of live ammunition 18 units of motorcycles and inclusive of 80 means of conveyance. All with a duty paid value (DPV) of N 723,288,244.75,” he added.

His words, there is a disturbing new trend of smuggling deployed by smugglers and that has to do with massive use of motorcycles to smuggle parboiled rice at 50kg each using bush paths not accessible to vehicles.

“Another challenge that has remained unabated is the issue of ambush attacks of officers unprovoked. Just on Saturday 16th October, 2021, my patrol team ran into a convoy of more than 24 vehicles laden with smuggled rice and they were able to intercept 12 along Abeokuta/Sagamu Interchange.

As the officers made their way to Lagos, over 300 smugglers and hoodlums had mobilized and attacked the officers with pump-action rifles as well as cutlasses, pebbles and bottles.

In the process, the patrol vehicle was riddled with bullets wounds while the windscreen was shattered. The aftermath of the attack was the forceful retrieval of 8 of the 12 intercepted vehicles and injuring of 2 officers. You can now see what we face every other day.

One thing is very certain; we remain undaunted in the pursuit of our mandate no matter the level of attacks on my operations in the field.

He added that “Let me sound a note of warning to smugglers. No man has the monopoly of violence. We have the backing of the law to bear arms; and to that extent, we will not hesitate to deploy the Rules of Engagement in such dangerous circumstances. Parents should warn their wards on the dangers of smuggling.

‘Within the period under review, we had a total of 37 suspects arrested for various offences. Six of the suspects are already charged to Court, 12 on Administrative Bail while 19 are still in our custody either waiting to be charged to Court or be released through Bail.

“The activities of the Unit are not restricted to the borders alone, searchlight is equally beamed on the seaports in a bid to stamp out or minimize certain sharp practices credited to certain unscrupulous elements at the ports.

On the 7th of October, 2021, the Unit intercepted 1x40ft container no. TGBU 6748844 along Amuwo Odofin in Ojo LGA of Lagos State being transloaded into two trucks with Reg. nos. FKJ621XA and Scania FST331YD. As at the time of interception, 248 bales of secondhand clothing had been transloaded into DAF truck no. FKJ621XA, 240 bales into Scania truck no. FST331YD while 216 bales were still remaining in the container.

Both the container and the two trucks were brought to FOU ‘A’ and converted to seizure. Investigation which is ongoing has so far revealed that the container left APMT Apapa on Transire to Fano Bonded Terminal.

It was further revealed that the containers were 3 in number on one single declaration. We are on the trail of the remaining 2 and of course those behind the dastardly act will not be spared as some people are already in the Cell helping in our investigation.

Newsdirect

Related Topics:Customs expired drugs Ogun oyo PMS

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Release Nnamdi Kanu before November 4 or… – IPOB

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CSU CERTIFICATE CONTROVERSY: How Ex-Lecturer Inadvertently Indicted Himself Over Claims Against President Tinubu

Published

11 hours ago

November 11, 2026

Trends Admin

Dr. Adetokunbo Pearse

CSU CERTIFICATE CONTROVERSY: How Ex-Lecturer Inadvertently Indicted Himself Over Claims Against President Tinubu

LAGOS — A fresh controversy surrounding President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s academic credentials at Chicago State University (CSU) has taken an unexpected turn, following explosive claims made by a former lecturer at the institution, Dr. Adetokunbo Pearse.

Pearse, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and governorship aspirant, publicly accused President Tinubu of never attending CSU, describing the Nigerian leader in harsh terms during a broadcast interview on News Central Television. Pearse claimed that as a former lecturer at CSU, he had direct knowledge of the institution’s records and served as the director of the program Tinubu reportedly attended.

However, Pearse’s allegations have sparked fierce backlash after key details of his timeline emerged, leading political analysts and presidential aides to conclude that the former lecturer effectively indicted himself.

The Discrepancy in Timelines

During his broadcast appearance, Dr. Pearse disclosed that he served as a lecturer and program director at Chicago State University between 1985 and 1990.

Official records previously confirmed by Chicago State University establish that President Bola Tinubu attended the university between 1977 and 1979, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in June 1979.

The six-year gap between Tinubu’s graduation in 1979 and Pearse’s arrival at the university in 1985 has drawn significant scrutiny. Critics point out that Pearse was not present at CSU during the years Tinubu studied there, undermining his claim of personal first-hand knowledge of student enrollments during the late 1970s.

Presidency and Allies Respond

Reacting to the allegations, aides to President Tinubu and members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) cited major flaws in Pearse’s narrative.

Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, highlighted the timeline mismatch, noting that a lecturer who joined CSU six years after a student had already graduated could not authoritatively claim personal knowledge of that student’s presence on campus.

“Facts are always scary to con-artists,” Olusegun noted, emphasizing that individual faculty members do not possess administrative ownership of an entire university’s historical database across different decades.

Furthermore, APC chieftains have demanded that Pearse retract his statement or face legal action for defamation, describing the allegations as politically motivated rhetoric aimed at heating up the polity ahead of future elections.

While certificate controversies have repeatedly resurfaced in public debate, legal investigations and past disclosures by Chicago State University have maintained that President Tinubu was indeed a registered student who completed his degree at the institution in 1979.

As public debate continues over the incident, Pearse’s attempt to present himself as the ultimate authority on the matter has instead turned the spotlight back onto his own timeline, leaving him to address the glaring inconsistencies in his claims.

For further context and analysis regarding public statements and legal responses to President Tinubu’s academic record controversies, you can watch Dr. Adetokunbo Pearse’s statement on Chicago State University records, which details the allegations and political reactions surrounding the issue.

CSU CERTIFICATE CONTROVERSY: How Ex-Lecturer Inadvertently Indicted Himself Over Claims Against President Tinubu

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Ogbomosoland Grand Chief Imam, Sheikh Teliat Ayilara II, Marks Five Years in Office

Published

11 hours ago

November 11, 2026

Trends Admin

Sheikh Dr. Teliat Yunus Olushina Ayilara II (PhD)

Ogbomosoland Grand Chief Imam, Sheikh Teliat Ayilara II, Marks Five Years in Office

By Newstrends Reporter

The Grand Chief Imam of Ogbomosoland, Sheikh Dr. Teliat Yunus Olushina Ayilara II, has celebrated five years of spiritual leadership and service, expressing profound gratitude to Almighty Allah for His guidance, wisdom and strength throughout his tenure.

The Islamic cleric marked the milestone on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, exactly five years after assuming the revered position of Grand Chief Imam of Ogbomosoland on November 11, 2021.

In a commemorative message reflecting on his journey, Sheikh Ayilara II described his five years in office as a period of divine grace, responsibility and privilege, expressing appreciation to Allah for the opportunity to lead the Muslim community.

He said Almighty Allah had remained his source of strength and direction in the discharge of his responsibilities, particularly in guiding the affairs of the Muslim Ummah and promoting peaceful coexistence, unity and religious harmony across Ogbomosoland.

Reflecting on the achievements and challenges of the past five years, the Grand Chief Imam acknowledged the contributions of Islamic scholars, traditional rulers, community leaders and members of the Muslim community, whose cooperation and support, he said, had been instrumental to the progress recorded during his leadership.

He also expressed appreciation to well-wishers, supporters and Muslim faithful who had stood by him throughout his tenure, offering prayers, encouragement and other forms of assistance.

Grand Chief Imam of Ogbomosoland, Sheikh Dr. Teliat Yunus Olushina Ayilara II

Sheikh Ayilara II particularly commended the dedication of Islamic leaders and scholars, stressing the importance of collective responsibility in advancing the cause of Islam and strengthening the bonds of unity among Muslims.

Ogbomosoland Grand Chief Imam, Sheikh Teliat Ayilara II, Marks Five Years in Office

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Osun NURTW Takes Adeleke Govt to Court Over Planned Park Management System

Published

13 hours ago

November 11, 2026

Trends Admin

Osun NURTW Takes Adeleke Govt to Court Over Planned Park Management System

By Newstrends Reporter

OSOGBO – The leadership crisis between the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Osun State Council, and the state government has taken a fresh turn as the union has dragged Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration before the State High Court over its proposed motor park management system.

The union is challenging the legality of the government’s plan to introduce a new management arrangement for motor parks across the state, arguing that the move could undermine its existing operational rights and violate relevant legal provisions.

The suit, instituted by the NURTW Osun State Council, is seeking judicial intervention to determine whether the state government has the legal authority to restructure motor park administration without complying with established statutory procedures.

The union is led by its State Chairman, Comrade Kazem Oyewale, popularly known as Asiri Eniba, alongside other executive members.

According to information contained in the suit, the union is contesting the proposed arrangement on grounds bordering on its constitutional right to freedom of association and the legality of the government’s intended changes to the existing park management structure.

The development signals an escalating confrontation between the transport union and the Adeleke administration over who should control the management and administration of motor parks in Osun.

NURTW Seeks Court Order to Stop Implementation

The union is reportedly seeking an injunction restraining the state government from implementing the proposed park management arrangement pending the determination of the substantive suit.

At the centre of the dispute is the government’s proposed restructuring of motor park administration, which the union believes could affect its established role in the state’s transport sector.

The disagreement also raises questions about the extent of state governments’ powers to regulate motor park operations, particularly where established transport unions are involved.

The defendants in the suit include Governor Ademola Adeleke and the Osun State Government.

Government Yet to React

As of the time of filing this report, the Osun State Government had not issued an official response to the lawsuit.

However, the proposed park management arrangement has been presented as part of efforts to improve transport administration, strengthen revenue collection and enhance commuter safety.

The court is expected to consider the legal arguments presented by both sides as the dispute progresses.

The outcome could have wider implications for the relationship between state governments and transport unions, particularly over the administration, control and revenue generation of motor parks.