Many Headaches Of Ahmed, Customs BossMany Headaches Of Ahmed, Customs BossStories b y FUNSO OLOJO
This may not be the best of times for Alhaji Hammah Ahmed, the Comptroller-General of Customs.
The Adamawa State-born Customs Chief is currently battling with forces, both within the Customs Service and outside, which he may have whittingly or unwhittingly created for himself.
His emergence as Customs High commander, which many considered happened “against the run of play” has resulted into an interplay of political shenanigans and mutual suspicions among the top echelon of the Customs service
The muted tension and rivalry in the service has made Alhaji Ahmed to cultivate a small clique among the different cadres of officers as his favourites while alienating the majority of others.
To further demonstrate his high level of distrust and suspicions for most of his officers, especially those in the Comptroller cadre at the command level, Alhaji Ahmed resorted to using special squad to perform operational functions, mostly at the command level.
This special and favoured clique only owes its allegiance and affinity to the customs high commander.
Members of the clique were drafted to sensitive operational areas at the command level where they were given unfettered power and authority.
This singular action by the Customs high commander has turned out to be one of the major sources of his present travails.
The act of brigande of his men at the command level has not only further aggravated the level of uneasiness in the Customs, but it has also created operational crises at the ports.
Senior officers, mostly in the Comptroller Cadre, are now feeling disturbed by the action of the Customs helmsman whom they accused of systematically undermining their powers and influence in their areas of duty.
The uncontrolled activities and behaviours of the “CG boys” at the ports have further confirmed their fears that they may no longer be relevant in the scheme of things as the members of the squad have virtually taken over their duties.
Consequently, some comptrollers convened a secret meeting recently where they reviewed the activities of the “CG boys” at the ports and the gradual erosion of their authority and influence.
A source in the meeting whispered to National Mirror that the senior officers have evolved a plan to neutralise the rampaging influence of the “CG boys” and restore their professional dignity which they feared was gradually been tainted.
It was therefore agreed that all the inordinate moves and activities of the special squad would be curtailed while any further imposition by the CG would be resisted.
This development has therefore pitted Alhaji Ahmed against majority of his alienated officers who are aggrieved at his seperationist style of administration.
In addition, importers and agents who are freely extorted and harassed by members of the special CG squad have also resorted to violence to free themselves from the greedy grip of the favoured officers.
Recently, a member of the squad was nearly mobbed at the Kririkiri Lighter Terminal (KLT) command when he was pelted with sachet water.
Angry agents mobilised themselves against the said officer (names withheld) whom they accused of constant harassment, extortion and high handedness.
It took the intervention of the Area controller of the command, Dr. Jatua, to safe the whimpering officer from the angry mob.
Similar incidents as reactions to the excessiveness of CG special boys are now rampant in most of the area commands where they have showed utter disregard and disdain for the authority of the host commands.
While the Customs High Chief was contending with the problems which mainly arose from his administrative ineptitude, his moral standing has also been called to question.
A Cameroonian woman, but resident in Cotonon, Benin Republic, one Mokoukou Paul Biane, has dragged the Customs High Chief to court over an alleged illicit affairs which she claimed eventually resulted to the birth of a baby boy.
In a suit filed at the Upper Area Court, the litigant claimed that he was impregnated by the Customs High Commander in 2006, alleging that Alhaji Ahmed started a relationship with her after helping her secure the release of her seized goods.
She was said to be praying the court to compel the Customs topman to take full responsibility for the child.
With this allegation from a foreigner coupled with the animosity within the service, Alhaji Ahmed would have greatly aged and added more grey hairs by the time he vacates his exalted office.
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