MMIA Customs Probes Alleged Misconduct at Lagos Airport, Reaffirms Commitment to Transparency
By Lucy Nyambi
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Command, has launched an investigation following a media report alleging misconduct by two serving officers during the customs clearance of a passenger.
In a press statement issued on Monday, 16 June 2025, and signed by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Customs Usman Abdul, the incident concerns Mr Oke Adhekegba, who arrived in Lagos on 16 May 2025 aboard British Airways Flight BA-75 from London.
Mr Adhekegba was reportedly in possession of 10 pieces of luggage containing various items, including 15 pairs of footwear, 22 bottles of perfume, 12 handbags, and numerous new clothing items. The examination was conducted by Chief Superintendent of Customs (CSC) Kolawale Adebayo and Assistant Superintendent of Customs I (ASC I) Charles Ugboma.
The goods were valued at $1,948.15—equivalent to ₦3,113,574.00—with applicable charges totalling ₦1,000,004.00. These charges, covering import duty, VAT, CISS, surcharge, and ECOWAS levy, have already been remitted to the Federal Government’s account.
Reacting to the development, the Command reaffirmed its zero-tolerance policy towards misconduct and procedural abuse, assuring the public of a thorough investigation.
“As a responsible agency committed to professionalism, transparency, and integrity, the MMIA Command does not condone unethical behaviour or any compromise of standard operational procedures by its personnel or members of the travelling public,” the statement read.
The Command confirmed that a full investigation is underway to verify the allegations and determine whether any breach of procedure occurred.
“While the Command remains open to scrutiny and welcomes constructive engagement from stakeholders, it reiterates that duty must be paid on dutiable items as prescribed by law.”
It further warned that any passenger violating customs clearance protocols for personal gain would face sanctions in line with the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.
