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Group defends Ahmed Bello against
EFCC
From Geoffrey Anyanwu, Awka
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
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Photo:
The Sun Publishing |
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A group, ‘Friends of Ahmed Bello,’ has risen in defence
of the former Comptroller-General of Customs, Alhaji Ahmed Bello
who was charged to court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) for allegedly abetting evasion of Customs duty payment by
the Vaswani brothers.
In a statement in Abuja on Monday, the group accused the EFCC of
‘scape-goating’ Bello because of his refusal to cooperate
with the anti-corruption commission in its persecution schemes against
the famous businessmen. The Vaswani brothers have since been deported
by the EFCC.
“The former comptroller-general did not do any wrong, neither
did the Vaswani brothers. The EFCC chairperson is determined to
humiliate innocent people in total disregard for the due process
mantra of the Yar’Adua administration for her to please the
business competitors of the Vaswanis.”
The group accused the EFCC of deliberately misinforming the country
of the proper Customs procedure concerning the matter and asserted
that “Ahmed Bello is an innocent victim of power play by a
clique determined to abolish business competition in the country.
They expressed their determinations to stand by their friend in
court to prove that the EFCC is just blowing hot air because no
crime has been committed.”
They said: “Although in our sincere opinion and that of our
attorneys, the matter is currently undergoing due process under
the rule of law. We feel compelled to issue the press release in
the interest of the millions of our countrymen who are entitled
to the truth.
Narrating the incident leading to the alleged ‘harsh’
campaign against the Vaswanis and the former CG, a source close
to Ahmed Bello’s legal team narrated: “During the time
the prices of rice skyrocketed in 2008, in line with the Federal
Government’s import strategy on ensuring food security, the
Vaswanis responded to the requirements by making supply arrangements
of sufficient quantities internationally from May-October 2008.
“The progressive strategy of the Federal Government was very
successful, and it reduced the prices of rice for the consumer from
N15,000 per bag to N6,000.
“All of the shipments entered Nigerian waters before the stipulated
duty-free deadline of October 31, 2008 and were also partially discharged
in Lagos port before proceeding to Port Harcourt. The shipments
and their arrival details are legally well documented.
However, in January 2009, three months later, the Customs chose
to claim duties against the last shipments. As payment of duties
undermine the very purpose of Federal Government’s move to
stabilize local prices and ensure food security, the Stallion Group
contested the decisions officially with the customs and have provided
all requisite information since then.
“On another matter, the issue is about two shipments of rice
that were imported into Nigeria in early 2009 with all necessary
legal documents.
The assessments on Customs duties and charges were issued by COTECNA,
government appointed inspection agency. This was also at that time
confirmed by customs which issued the necessary assessment notices.
Duties were duly paid accordingly on timely basis.
“After the payment of these duties, the Customs suddenly almost
doubled the price of the product and issued demand notices to the
group to pay the difference. Worried that such a high valuation
could result in increased local prices of rice, the group contested
the debit notes. However, following the rule of law and due process,
the Vaswanis provided Customs with a bank guarantee for the amount
they were claiming, pending the resolution of the matter before
being authorised by Customs to take delivery of our consignment
as per the regulations.”
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