….as Customs denies involvement

By Chioma Obinna & Lucky Oji

Police authorities in Lagos State may have commenced fresh investigations into allegations of attack made against the Seme Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), by the Editor-in-chief of a Lagos-based Tentacle magazine, Mr. Innocent Chukwu, editor-in-chief.

This is just as men of the Customs at Seme have denied their involvement in the alleged attack claiming that they were rather the latest victim of the Editor’s ‘blackmail’.

Crime Alert learnt that Police intervention followed a strongly worded petition by the Editor over the matter and a passionate call on the police to bring all those involved to book.

In the petition to the Area Commander, Area ‘E’ Command of the Nigeria Police by the law firm of Stella Ukegbu & Associates, Chukwu alleged that while he was at the command to honor the invitation, a gang of over 50 men comprising Customs men and smugglers took him out and beat him up, leaving him with serious injuries.

Though Lagos State Police command spokesman, Frank Mba could not speak on the latest development as he was said to have traveled outside the country, a reliable source in his office confirmed that they are investigating the case.

Chukwu had told reporters at a hospital in Lagos where doctors are battling to save his life, that he was assaulted by men of the command and suspected smugglers on the orders of the controller of the command, Comptroller K. I. Maitama.

But reacting to the allegation,  Customs Public Relations Officer at Seme Command, Mr. Earnest Ollotah alleged that the Editor is ‘an unrepentant blackmailer who will stop at nothing to extort money from people’.

Denying that the Controller of Customs at Seme  granted the editor an interview, Olottah said Chukwu’s claim that men of the command tortured him was an attempt to obtain money from the command.

Said he: “Innocent Chukwu is obviously using this to expand his frontiers of blackmail and desperation to force out money from the command at all costs. His visit to the command at his (Chukwu’s) instance coincided with the visit of other journalists. At the end of an informal parley with the Area Controller, all the journalists (including Chukwu) were asked to proceed with the Public Relations Officer to the next office.

Chukwu left for an unknown destination only to return to the CAC’s waiting room with bruises. I alerted the CAC who directed that Chukwu be taken to the Customs clinic for first aid and that the alleged assault be investigated. He (Chukwu) refused to cooperate with us in our bid to unravel the identities of the persons and place he was assaulted. He (rather) chose to cast aspersion on the command and allege that the command was responsible.

“The command in its over 20 years of existence has enjoyed good relationship with the media even when some stories appeared not favourable to us. Assault is alien to our working style, as we cannot act outside the law. It is worth noting that Chukwu has a history of going to press with unverified matters.

“We at Seme are the latest victims of his unprofessional kind of journalism, where there is a price tag attached to a purported investigation and insistence that visits to our office must be paid for.   I dare say that Chukwu never had an interview with our Area Controller and quoting him was not only unfair but also unethical.”

Chukwu had accused the Seme Customs command of attacking him following a report he did on the alleged use of the border by gunrunners for their illicit trade.

On publication of the story titled: “Illegal Arms Importation Rises At Ports, Border Posts”, Chukwu said, he was invited by the command, with Maitama allegedly expressing anger over the magazine’s claim that Seme border was being used by smugglers who deal in arms.

The Tentacle editor told newsmen that he was convinced about the credibility of the report, insisting that Maitama himself confirmed the use of the border for arms trade.

He, however, admitted that he surreptitiously recorded the alleged interview with Maitama.