Man sues retired customs officer over “stupendous wealth”

A self-proclaimed anti-corruption crusader, Emmanuel Nwachukwu, has asked a Federal High Court in Abuja to compel the Code of Conduct Bureau to investigate and prosecute a former Comptroller of Customs, Rasheed Taiwo Owolabi, for allegedly failing to declare his assets after retiring from the Nigeria Customs Service. In an application for judicial review filed through his counsel, Amobi Nzelu, on Friday, Mr. Nwachukwu asked the court to compel the Code of Conduct Bureau, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Inspector General of Police, and the Nigeria Customs Service Board to investigate Mr. Owolabi for several offences including non-declaration of assets, illegal acquisition of wealth, and abuse of office. Mr. Nwachukwu has also asked the Nigeria Customs Services Board to investigate the certificate, purportedly acquired from the University of Paris, which Mr. Owolabi presented during his employment, as well as the retired officer’s National Youth Service Corps discharge certificate.

He has asked the board to withhold all of Mr. Owolabi’s entitlements until the determination of the case. Mr. Nwachukwu told the court that he had written to several anti-graft agencies asking them to investigate Mr. Owolabi for the offences listed in the application, but so far none of them has responded to his letter. Mr. Nwachukwu accused Mr. Owolabi of acquiring stupendous wealth while he was serving in the customs. He listed some of the properties allegedly owned by Mr. Owolabi and reminded the court that the EFCC has the right, under the Act establishing it, to investigate those assets.

Embattled officer

This is not the first time the retired customs officer has found himself tangled in the judiciary. Mr. Owolabi joined the customs service in 1980 and was retired in 2009. He has, however, sued the customs board and the present comptroller-general, Abdullahi Inde Dikko, challenging his January 2010 retirement. In March, Mr. Owolabi went to the Federal High Court in Abuja to seek reinstatement to his office, demanding N500 million in damages for what he called his “unlawful and illegal retirement.” The retired officer claimed he was not due to leave office until 2015 and called for payment of all his salaries, emoluments, and entitlements from the time he was retired until his due retirement date.