NewStats: 3,264,677 , 8,184,394 topics. Date: Thursday, 12 June 2025 at 12:06 AM 323v50

Appeal Court Rules It’s Illegal For Nigerian Customs To Leave Borders, Patrol Highways To Seize Foreign Rice From Market Buyers

The Court of Appeal in Kaduna has ruled that the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) cannot confiscate foreign rice from buyers in open markets or on highways, restricting its enforcement authority to land borders.

Delivering the judgment on Wednesday, Justice Ntong Ntong, speaking for the three-member appellate , declared the seizure of goods on highways as unlawful.

The ruling followed an appeal filed by Customs against a Federal High Court judgment that acquitted Suleiman Mohammed, a businessman, of charges related to the importation of foreign goods.

The court ordered the immediate release of 613 bags of foreign rice, 80 bags of millet worth approximately N200 million, and a truck impounded from Mohammed on June 14, 2019, along the Kaduna-Zaria Expressway.

Justice Ntong clarified that the Kaduna-Zaria Expressway is not a land border and, therefore, does not fall under Customs’ jurisdiction for enforcing bans on foreign rice imports.

"The Nigeria Customs Service has no right to patrol highways or expressways to arrest individuals and confiscate goods under the guise of importation bans," the judgment stated.

Justice Ntong stated that he had thoroughly reviewed the appeal records, including the trial court's judgment, parties' briefs, statutes, and exhibits, and concurred with the trial court's ruling that the Kaduna-Zaria Expressway does not qualify as a "land border" under the law.

The court ruled that the defendant was merely a purchaser of rice and millet from the Central Market in Gusau, Zamfara State, ed by a receipt of purchase, and was not an importer.

It stated that the Nigeria Customs Service should have apprehended the importer rather than targeting an ordinary buyer in the open market.

Citing an Annang idiom, Justice Ntong remarked that it was illogical for a fowl to ignore its killer and chase the person de-feathering it, suggesting that customs officials were wrongly pursuing petty traders and consumers instead of addressing the real culprits—the importers.

The court also noted that contraband goods typically enter the country through borders, which are the primary jurisdiction of customs enforcement.

Furthermore, the Court of Appeal criticized the Nigeria Customs Service for conducting "a shoddy investigation from the comfort of their office."

It ruled that if it was impossible to return the confiscated rice, millet, and truck, the Nigeria Customs Service Board must compensate the respondent with an amount equivalent to the current market value of the seized items.

In dismissing the appeal, Justice Ntong Ntong ordered the Nigeria Customs Service to comply immediately with the court's directives.

https://saharareporters.com/2024/12/19/appeal-court-rules-its-illegal-nigerian-customs-leave-borders-patrol-highways-seize

k

Front page please.


This is good so that the public will be well enlightened.


Please mod do the needed needful.


Thanks

If the judiciary wakes up they will reshape this country for better with sound judgement delivery like this

Just like leaving nyash wey mess the konk d head

Good one, those useless custom people will be stopping cars on the highway and asking for custom paper, car that has already been ed in Nigeria.

VIO down
CUSTOM down
Na the madness of FRSC be the next.
The one in my area , they have a big pot hole in their junction, instead of them to facilitate the filling of the pot hole to allow smoother driving of cars, they turned the spot into a check point. No be madness be dat☹️

Same way they should not stop tokubo that dily ed the ports on the road.....

tnerro1:
Good one, those useless custom people will be stopping cars on the highway and asking for custom paper, car that has already been ed in Nigeria.

VIO down
CUSTOM down
Na the madness of FRSC be the next.
The one in my area , they have a big pot hole in their junction, instead of them to facilitate the filling of the pot hole to allow smoother driving of cars, they turned the spot into a check point. No be madness be dat☹️

Courts have already restricted FRSC to their jurisdiction which is federal roads.

After that judgement i how a state governor in the south west confronted them and warned them to stay of the state roads.

In my state I now only find them on federal roads even though they often prefer to station in the sections of the federal roads that are in town.

I I doubt if anyone will have a problem with this judgement

Not even smugglers

Kudos to the Appeal Court

Over to the rascally executive to comply

Great judgement

Custom over stretch their limits like VIO

The right way to go.

Customs should stay within the borders

Wow, I really love this judgement

These custom people will one day come to our house to seize our bag of rice if their excesses are not checked

Honestly this judgement makes a whole lot of sense... Tighten your land borders well... Cos obviously those trucks through there... Not running after trucks carrying rice and frozen foods on highways... Customs FOU won't like this

Joke of a court...

Is there anyone who is following any rule or any court order in this country.

When will the appeal court rule on the illegality of bribery? Who's going to inform them that this news will not get to Customs but only to customers?

Good. Ntoor to FOU.

Do Nigerian law enforcers and politicians obey court judgement?

Infact I'm so happy those custom are banned. Let them stay in the border and stop disturbing people here and there.

Yes definitely. https://www.crew99.at/monteurzimmer-in-linz-buchen

If no be crase wey dey worry dem, after dem don collect bribe look the other way for boarder, another team go com dey form checking just to get their own share.

tnerro1:
Good one, those useless custom people will be stopping cars on the highway and asking for custom paper, car that has already been ed in Nigeria.

VIO down
CUSTOM down
Na the madness of FRSC be the next.
The one in my area , they have a big pot hole in their junction, instead of them to facilitate the filling of the pot hole to allow smoother driving of cars, they turned the spot into a check point. No be madness be dat☹️

Imagine the FRSC asking and enforcing car owners to replace fading plate numbers that was originally procured from them.

Instead of apologising for producing poor quality products, they are busy making Nigerians to pay for their deficiency.

One suggested I should be washing the plate number with LUX soap

It seems like every government agency exists solely to inflict pains on Nigerians. The growing hostility and bad blood between these agencies and the Nigerian people are deeply concerning.
Just like Customs, the VIO operating unlawfully on public roads impounded vehicles and imposed arbitrary fines without consequence.
Customs officials despite having no authority to be on the roads were confiscating goods with impunity because no one dares to challenge them or speak for the people.
I one time a private company in Abuja introduced "park and pay," requiring vehicle owners to pay for parking anywhere in the city. Even though it was illegal they operated unhindered with police ensurung enforcement. They already amassed trillions and inflicted pains on motorists in Abuja before the courts intervened.
In a functional society, all the officers involved in such illegalities would be dismissed.
Recently, a law has been ed allowing Road Safety officers to carry arms.
We already know how this will end... troubling days ahead.

Omooba77:


It ruled that if it was impossible to return the confiscated rice, millet, and truck, the Nigeria Customs Service Board must compensate the respondent with an amount equivalent to the current market value of the seized items.


https://saharareporters.com/2024/12/19/appeal-court-rules-its-illegal-nigerian-customs-leave-borders-patrol-highways-seize

Return ke... Something wey custom officers don distribute to their wives wey get shop 😁

This Gramma is too big please

Okay

Citing an Annang idiom, Justice Ntong remarked that it was illogical for a fowl to ignore its killer and chase the person de-feathering it

Omooba77:


https://saharareporters.com/2024/12/19/appeal-court-rules-its-illegal-nigerian-customs-leave-borders-patrol-highways-seize

Same way it is illegal for frsc to carry out enforcement on State road, according to court ruling

Kaa4:
Imagine the FRSC asking and enforcing car owners to replace fading plate numbers that was originally procured from them.

Instead of apologising for producing poor quality products, they making making Nigerians to pay for their deficiency.

One suggested I should be washing the plate number with LUX soap

Oh I was stopped by FRSC men who wanted to enforce fading plate numbers. I told them I wouldn’t pay the 3000 naira fine. I asked for the court option.

I never paid a dime.

Duru009:
This Gramma is too big please

Learn to read, nothing is complicated in that post. Laziness in basic literacy is part of what is killing this country.
My people perish for lack of knowledge...

Rich4god:
Joke of a court...

Is there anyone who is following any rule or any court order in this country.

It is not a joke.

If any government agencies violate the order of the court, take them to court to enforce your right.