Businessman, Company Docked For Evading Customs Duty

A federal high court in Lagos, southwest Nigeria, has adjourned till 26 October this year, the criminal charges of evading Customs duty preferred against a Lagos businessman, Adebayo Aluko and his company, Citi Flex Limited.

In a four-count criminal charge filed before the court by the Customs prosecuting counsel, Mr. Ajakaye Julius Iyiola, it was alleged that Citi Flex Limited of 82, Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos and Adebayo Aluko of the same address on or about the period of January, 2009 to December, 2011 within the jurisdiction of the court, were found to have removed from Murtala Muhammed International Airport Command, consignment of Nokia phones with chargeable Customs duty of N772,948,774.23 which has not been paid thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 47 (1) (a ) (1) of the Customs and excise act cap C 45 laws of the federation, 2004.

It was further alleged in counts two and three of the criminal charge that the accused businessman and his company, same time and place, knowingly with intention to defraud the Federal Government of the chargeable duty of N772,948,774.23 which was not paid for, evaded the payment of the tax.

The accused and his company in count four of the charge were also alleged to have falsified Customs payments documents of the chargeable duty of the said N772,948,774.23 and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 162 (a ) of the Customs and Exercise management Act cap C 45 laws of Federation, 2004.

When the charge was read to the accused person, he pleaded not guilty and his counsel urged the court to admit him to bail on liberal terms.

In his ruling, the presiding judge, Justice Okechukwu Okeke, admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N2 million with one surety in like sum. The surety must be a grade level 14 officer in the services of Federal Government or Lagos State Government. The surety must also produce two recent passport photographs and tax clearance while the Customs prosecutor would confirm the surety.

Consequently, the matter was adjourned till 26 October, 2012.