The command in a press statement yesterday signed by DSC Olattah Ernest, a copy of which was made available to our correspondent said that the Customs Area Controller (CAC) Comptroller, K. I. Maitama, never granted Mr Innocent Chukwu of Tentacles Magazine any interview.
Chukwu had alleged that the leadership of the command under Comptroller Maitama brutalized and attempted to murder him over a report.
According to Olattah, “no sane officer of the NCS will order that a smuggling suspect be beaten before prosecution. So, we cannot do this to media practitioners whom we view as our partners in the onerous task of protecting our economy and collecting all revenue due to the government of Nigeria.”
“Upon visiting the command, before seeing the controller, Chukwu recommended that he had a remedy to the false report he had written only if we sponsor the next edition of his magazine where he will do a good story for us. He mentioned that his visit to the command should be rewarded with something good.
“In a chat with me, he mentioned that he would not take less than a N100,000. I was shocked at this type of blackmail premised on falsehood. If he (Chukwu) knew that what he had written against the command in respect of arms and ammunition were false, why demand money to correct a misinformation?”
In his reaction, Chukwu denied ever demanding money from the NCS, insisting that the command wanted to kill him over his story entitled “Illegal Arms Importation Rises at Ports, Border Posts” but which the NCS spokesman said had elements of lies.
Investigations revealed that Chukwu had worked for Tentacles Magazine as a reporter.
Part of the statement reads: “We at Seme are the latest victim of this 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.
“His visit to the command at his 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 refused to cooperate with us in our bid to unravel the identities of the persons and place he was assaulted. He chose to cast aspersion on the command and alleged that the command was responsible,” Olattah said.
He added that the command also invited the Seme Divisional Police Officer to come and ensure adequate protection for Chukwu when he refused going to the customs clinic.
