Senate probes banks on N30trn import, export value scam
The Senate Committee on Customs, Exercise and Tariff has commenced
investigation into N30 trillion fraud allegedly carried out in the
import and export value chain between 2006 and 2017.
This was as the committee has summoned the Governor of the Central Bank
of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele; Finance Minister, Mrs Kemi Adeosun
and Minister of Budget and Planning, Senator Udo Udoma to appear before
it in three weeks.
The Chairman of the Committee, Sen Hope Uzodinma made this disclosure
at an investigative meeting with some of the commercial banks, alleged
to be accomplices in the fraud.
The Chairman said that the Committee would do everything possible to
ensure that the mandate given to it by the Upper Chamber to recover and
block leakages would be carried out to the letter.
Recall that the Senate had in plenary mandated Senator Uzodinma’s
committee to investigate and identify areas of revenue leakages in the
entire import and export circle.
According to Uzodinma,” The committee has started investigation. “We
took time to enter into the import and export value chain and we have
been able to identify areas of leakages and malpractices.
“This is ranging from un-utilised Form Ms, abandoned Form Ms, partially
abandoned Form Ms abandoned assessment of Customs Duties and foreign
exchange allocation manipulation.
“We have been able to go into the database of the operating system of Nigeria Customs Service otherwise called ASCODA.
Continuing he said, “We identified Form M by Form M, import by import,
vessel by vessel, liabilities of importers and commercial banks that
are yet to be handled.The Authority
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