Customs Faces Serious Corruption Allegations Over Asset Disposal
The President of the Nigeria Association of Auctioneers (NAA), Mallam Musa Kurra, has leveled serious accusations against the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), claiming the agency has been involved in unlawful sales of seized and forfeited national assets. These allegations, made during a press briefing last week, echo similar concerns Kurra first raised in 2022.
Kurra presented what he described as "Direct Auction Allocation" documents that allegedly show containers filled with luxury vehicles, hospital equipment, and construction materials were sold to private companies for shockingly low prices ranging between N1 million and N2 million per container.
Legal Violations in Asset Disposal Process
The NAA president asserted that these transactions violate multiple legal frameworks governing the disposal of seized or overtime goods. He specifically cited the Customs and Excise Management Act and the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, both of which mandate that auctions must be conducted through public notices or via the official e-auction platform to ensure transparency.
According to Kurra's allegations, the reported sales were conducted without:
- Public bidding processes
- Involvement of licensed auctioneers
- Proper oversight mechanisms
This raises significant concerns about transparency and compliance with established government procedures for asset disposal.
Customs Denial and Ongoing Controversy
In response to these allegations, the Nigeria Customs Service has issued a denial. Senior customs officer H. H. Hadison stated in a November 7, 2025 announcement that all sales conducted by the service followed due process and complied with statutory guidelines.
However, the NAA has further accused senior Customs officials of breaching the Public Procurement Act 2007 and the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act 2022 (POCA). Under POCA regulations, seized or forfeited assets must be managed by the Proceeds of Crime Management Directorate, with all proceeds directed to the Confiscated and Forfeited Assets Account at the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Kurra emphasized that Customs continues to perform multiple functions - seizing, valuing, and auctioning items internally - which POCA specifically separates to prevent conflicts of interest and ensure proper checks and balances.
Potential Consequences and Official Petitions
The association president warned that bypassing established procedures could result in significant revenue losses for Nigeria, as valuable national assets may be sold at fractions of their actual market value without proper competitive bidding.
In response to these concerns, the NAA has taken formal action by submitting petitions to:
- The National Assembly
- The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)
- The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC)
These petitions call for a forensic audit of Customs' operations and revenue management since 2022. The association has also urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene personally and ensure full compliance with asset-disposal regulations.
As of now, the Nigeria Customs Service has not issued any new public statements addressing these fresh allegations, leaving many questions unanswered about the management of seized national assets.
