Nigeria’s investigative journalist, Fisayo Soyombo, has released videos confirming that the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) between Saturday night and early hours of Sunday successfully smuggled over 2000 cars containing over 6,500,000kg of rice into Nigeria in trickles through Badagry, Lagos State.

Soyombo said that the two videos he released with a statement on his social media handle on Monday are parts of a larger set recorded at various times between 2:30am and 4am on Sunday, saying that the videos are evidence of the flow of rice vehicles through Badagry.

He said that after a certain Customs checkpoint, more than 60 cars parked at a particular spot were noticeable.

He wrote, “I’m writing to congratulate you on finally successfully smuggling over 2,000 cars containing over 6,500,000kg of rice into the country in trickles through Badagry, with the major act happening from Saturday night into the early hours of Sunday morning.

“The two videos appended below are a part of a larger set recorded at various times between 2:30am and 4am on Sunday, evidence of the flow of rice vehicles through Badagry.

“After a certain Customs checkpoint, more than 60 cars parked at a particular spot were noticeable.”

He added, “Elsewhere, at a filling station, more than 50 cars with rice were also spotted. Many more drove into the country with unfettered access, all eventually easing their way through Customs checkpoints without hassle.

“Many of those cars passed through Ijanikin, Mowo, Aradagun, Oko-Afo, Agbara and Ibereko, some slowing down around the bridge to Festac and others continuing on to other routes.

“Congratulations once again and continue aiding and abetting the very crime you were created to tackle!”

 Soyombo had released videos to establish his smuggling allegations against the Nigerian Customs Service officers.

Fisayo had in a statement alleged that Nigerian customs officers had conspired with Adeyemi Habeeb Abdulganiy, an alleged multi-billionaire-naira smuggler better known as Abuga, to illegally pass about 2000 cars and smuggle in bags of rice into the country.

He said the illegal operation was slated to take place on Sunday, 10th of November, 2024.
However, the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) National Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Aliyu Maiwada, had told The Bureau Newspaper that Fisayo’s claims were fictitious without providing counter-evidence.

He had said it was illogical for anyone to believe their personnel were involved in the illegal operation.

But in another post, Fisayo released two more videos to substantiate his smuggling allegations against the customs officers.