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Import duty evasion: Firms move to offset N23bn outstanding charges

By BusinessNews Staff on August 22, 2015

Defaulting importers in the N23 billion import duty evasion have begun moves to offset their debts. The firms, which include the Stallion Group, Olams Farms, and Conti Agro Nigeria Limited are said to be owners of a subsidiary, which was the main investor in the development of a multi-billion ultra modern highbrow hotel in Lagos.
They were said to have initiated measures aimed at making the NCS High Command to let them off the hook as they continued to count losses following the sealing of their premises.
THISDAY checks revealed that the sudden resolve of the defaulting importers to settle their debts was sequel to their inability to make the NCS change its mind.
Besides, it was gathered that the firms took the option of paying their outstanding customs duties because they could not get the listening ears of those at the corridors of power, who often give them backing.

Impeccable sources told THISDAY that if the defaulting firms had succeeded in getting the support of the powers that be, the top echelon of NCS would have been directed to bend the rules in their favour without minding the grave negative consequences to the economy.

Already, men and officers of the service led by its Public Relations Officer (PRO), NCS Headquarters, Abuja, Alhaji Adewale Adeniyi had sealed off the premises of the defaulting importers located in Lagos.

The decision of NCS to seal the premises of the affected importers followed their refusal to comply after several ultimatums given to them to pay had elapsed.
Confirming the development, Adeniyi, a Deputy Comptroller of Customs said NCS had considered it necessary to clarify its position on its on-going battle to compel defaulting rice importers pay outstanding duties owed the Federal Government of Nigeria. The management of Conti Agro has commenced engagement with the Customs to make payments of duty owed by it so that the issue can be resolved.
It is expected that more defaulting firms would approach NCS for payment of the outstanding customs duty as the new leadership takes over NCS as a result of the acceptance of the resignation of Alhaji Inde Dikko Abdullahi as the Comptroller General of Customs by President Muhammadu Buhari.

There were speculations in some quarters that the defaulting firms would have gotten the moral nerve to make a case for themselves if the out gone NCS boss letter of resignation was rejected by Buhari, thereby paving the way for his sack and subsequent arrest and prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

It was gathered that this was why some of the importers adopted a “wait and see” attitude in their on-going face-off with NCS.

Their calculation was that if Abdullahi was sacked from office in the face of several allegations against him, the defaulters would have used it as an avenue to evade payment.

[ThisDay]

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