The Nigeria Customs Service has arrested and detained the Customs officer reportedly caught extorting a motorist in viral extortion video on the Lagos-Benin Expressway.
The disciplinary action against the embattled officer whose identity was not disclosed, began on Friday when he was paraded by the high Customs Command and handed over the Customs police unit for further investigation
The service described the incident as a clear case of unprofessional conduct and reiterated its zero-tolerance policy for misconduct by personnel in Nigeria.
Controller of the Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, Lagos State, CSC Hussaini Abdullahi, assured that the disciplinary action was in line with its zero-tolerance policy on misconduct,” a voice-over in the video.
While handing over the implicated officer to the head of the Customs Police Unit, Abdullahi said on X that: “The service wishes to reiterate that officers found culpable of violating ethical standards will be subjected to appropriate sanctions without compromise.
“On behalf of the Controller, Federal Operations Unit Zone A, Controller G.I. Aliu, I hereby hand over the officer to the Head of the Customs Police Unit in Zone A for further investigation and other necessary action.
According to news report, the viral video that prompted the action captured the officer demanding up to N200,000 from a motorist.
The officer, dressed in uniform, was seen engaging the driver over vehicle documents and past clearances while pressing for payment, according to the recording.
During the encounter, the officer told the motorist that he was liable for outstanding vehicle document payments dating back to 2018 and that the accumulated amount had become substantial, while the motorist responded that previous officers usually cleared such issues in Apapa, Lagos State.
Thereafter, the officer then told him to report to the office to retrieve his key, heightening tension.
