Nigeria Customs officers beat Lagos magistrate for impounding vehicles

On Friday some officers of the Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Ikeja, allegedly lunched an attack on a magistrate, Lekan Aka-Bashorun, for impounding their vehicles after they violated traffic laws. The officers were said to have slapped Aka-Bashorun, while two policemen were also beaten up by same custom officers

It was gathered that court exhibits and recording gadgets were also allegedly damaged by the customs officials, who reportedly claimed that their vehicles could not be impounded by  the Lagos State Mobile Court.

On Friday around 1pm, the task force officials with the mobile court went to Allen Avenue, Ikeja, to impound vehicles caught violating traffic laws.

The officials were said to have arrived at the NCS, FOU headquarters, Ikeja, where some private cars were reportedly parked along the walkways. The mobile court officials impounded the vehicles, some customs officials allegedly barricaded the highway with stones and tyres. 

The customs officers, who were said to have forcefully removed the number plates from the impounded vehicles, allegedly hit the magistrate for ordering that the vehicles be impounded.

A witness, who gave his name only as Ibrahim, alleged that two mobile phones belonging to the officials were seized by the customs officers during the rampage.

He said,

 “It was around a car wash area. To show that it was wrong to park vehicles by the walkway, there was also a ‘No parking’ sign, put there by the customs authorities. But some vehicles were parked there. The state mobile court impounded the vehicles.
“But the customs men trooped out and blocked the highway with stones and tyres. They beat up the court officials. One of them slapped the magistrate. They removed the number plates of the impounded vehicles. They also took two mobile phones. A camera, which was being used to record the scene, was taken away.”

Later the  two customs officers were arrested by the police during the affray, while officials of the mobile court were quickly taken away to safety.

It was gathered that the two customs officers – identified as Goyit Bulus and Sunday Olugbogi –  were later released on bail..”

Nigeria Customs officers beat Lagos magistrate for impounding vehicles