Oyo/Osun Customs Seizes Pistol, Magazines, Detonating Cords in N4.1bn Smuggling Interception

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Oyo/Osun Area Command, has intercepted a pistol, six pistol magazines, a pump-action magazine and 60 detonating cords among prohibited goods with a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N4.1 billion, in a major anti-smuggling operation aimed at protecting national security.
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The Acting Customs Area Controller (CAC), Oyo/Osun Command, Deputy Comptroller of Customs, Wale Adewole, disclosed this on Thursday, 17 September 2026, during a press briefing at the Command’s Operational Headquarters in Ibadan.

The seizure also included 573 Nigeria Police Force crests and 92 yards of police camouflage uniform fabric, raising concerns about criminal elements using security-related materials to impersonate law enforcement officers.

“We will continue to pay particular attention to items that have implications for national security and public safety, while ensuring that legitimate businesses and law-abiding members of the public are not unduly impeded,” Adewole said.

Other items intercepted included 2,012 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice, 550 bags of 25kg foreign parboiled rice, 2,440 wraps of Cannabis sativa, 1,150 used tyres, 17 used vehicles and 450 kegs of Premium Motor Spirit, totalling 5,000 litres.

The Command further seized 10 containers of corrosive mercury, 105 bales and 28 sacks of used clothing, as well as 48 packs of Tramadol. Adewole emphasised the importance of intelligence-driven enforcement and collaboration with sister security agencies in tackling smuggling.

Customs

Meanwhile, the Command generated N65.66 billion in revenue between January and August 2026, representing a 13.88 per cent increase from the N57.66 billion recorded during the corresponding period in 2025.

Adewole attributed the revenue growth to improved compliance, stakeholder engagement and trade facilitation, while reaffirming the Command’s commitment to combating smuggling, safeguarding national security and facilitating legitimate trade.
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Nigeria Customs Hits Economic Saboteurs, Seizes Cannabis, Others Worth ₦2.4bn in Ogun

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun I Area Command, has intensified its crackdown on smuggling and other forms of economic sabotage, recording seizures of contraband worth a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦2.469 billion.
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The Acting Customs Area Controller of the Command, Deputy Comptroller Oladapo Afeni, disclosed this on Thursday, 17 September 2026, during a press conference at the Command’s headquarters in Idiroko, where he reviewed its operational activities and achievements.

He said the seizures included 1,204 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 3,893 parcels of cannabis weighing 1.878 tonnes, 428 pneumatic tyres, 8,675 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), 24 bales of second-hand clothing, four sacks of used shoes and 500 litres of diesel.

Afeni said the seizures resulted from intelligence-led enforcement operations and improved inter-agency collaboration, stressing that the Command remained committed to strengthening border security while facilitating legitimate trade.

“Our concerted operational strategies, intelligence-led enforcement, and enhanced inter-agency collaboration have yielded remarkable, tangible results across all key focus areas,” he said

A major highlight of the seizure was the interception of a 2026 Range Rover Sport with a DPV of ₦417,011,982. “Our relentless anti-smuggling drives have dealt severe blows to illicit trade networks operating across Ogun State.”

In line with inter-Agency collaboration, the seized parcels of cannabis sativa were handed over to a representative of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation.

Nigeria Customs

Receiving the items, the Commander, NDLEA Idiroko Special Command, Olasumbo Akande, urged Nigerians to join the campaign against rampant drug abuse. “Idiroko remains a no-go area.

The Nigeria Customs, NDLEA, and other sister agencies will always come together to say “No” to hard drugs coming into our country or using our border as a transit for illegal goods,” he said.
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Alleged $6b Mambilla Power Contract: President Tinubu Hails EFCC for FG’s Victory at Arbitration Tribunal

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed appreciation to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for its investigation of the alleged fraudulent contract award of $6 billion for the construction of 3,960mw Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Station to Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited, SPTCL.
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The Commission’s investigations were pivotal to the September 17, 2026 victory of the federal government over the contractor company at the International Arbitration Tribunal.

The President in celebration of the federal government’s victory over SPTCL hailed the Commission for its findings in the irregular contract award.

“On behalf of the Government and People of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I strongly commend the tremendous efforts of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi and the entire team at the Federal Ministry of Justice for their efforts in this matter.

“I also commend the FRN defence team, led by Ms Elizabeth Oger-Gross and Mr Tolu Obamuroh, both of Paul Hastings LLP, for their professional and excellent defence of the country.
“I commend the patriotism and support of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, and late President Muhammadu Buhari, who testified in the case, which dated back to an illegal 2003 contract to build a 3,050-megawatt hydroelectric plant in Taraba State under a build-operate-transfer model. The Federal Executive Council never authorised the contract.

“I thank the other witnesses in this case, including former Ministers Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, and Suleiman Adamu, and the experts, for their active participation in defending Nigeria’s interest in the arbitration.
“I commend the National Security Adviser for his support and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for its investigation into the case.

“I want to assure you that while our country remains committed to partnering with genuine investors and honouring its legal obligations, it will continue to defend all opportunistic claims instituted against our commonwealth, strongly”

“Today’s ICC ruling clears the single biggest legal hurdle that has paralysed the Mambilla hydro power project for years” he said.

The International Arbitration Tribunal under the auspices of the International Chamber of Commerce, ICC, Paris, while ruling in favour of the country, rejected the damages of $680 million demanded by SPTCL as a settlement sum and interest in respect of another arbitration in which it is claiming over $2.7 billion in compensation and interest, relating to disputes associated with the construction of the 3960mw Mambila Hydroelectric Power Project in the arbitration instituted by the company against the federal government.

The former minister of power, Olu Agunloye had on May 22, 2003 awarded the project on a Build, Operate and Transfer Basis” to Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited, SPTCL.

Investigations by the EFCC established that the former minister awarded the contract without the approval of the National Executive Council, then chaired by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, making such award inconsistent with federal government’s procedure on award of contracts.

Investigations showed that the award was suffused with favouritism as the owner of the company, Leno Adesanya and the former minister are old time pals, who also in August, 2019 caused SPTCL to transfer the sum of N3,600,000.00 (Three Million Six Hundred Thousand Naira) to the former minister’s Guaranty Trust Bank account no.0022530926.

EFCC

These non-standard developments surrounding the contract led to its revocation by the former President Muhammadu Buhari’s government and the subsequent prosecution of the minister on a seven-count charge, bordering on fraudulent award of contract and official corruption by the Commission.

Agunloye’s prosecution subsists since Wednesday, January 10, 2024.

He was arraigned before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Apo, Abuja,

SPTCL dragged the federal government to the International Arbitration Tribunal, seeking monetary compensation for the contract the Tribunal established it never awarded in the first place.
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