Three industrial giants; Guinness ,Dangote and Toyota have been fingered by the Nigeria Customs Service in N400Million alleged import duty evasion scam , said to have accumulated since 2014.
The three names were contained in a public notice that was recently sighted by our correspondent on the notice board of the Port and Terminal Multi-purpose Service Limited, (PTML) Command of the Nigeria Customs Service.
According to the Nigeria Customs Service, while Toyota owed N82.5million, Dangote owed N18.2million, N80million was outstanding against Guinness.
The three companies were among several others who were alleged to have taken advantage of the Customs fast track system, which was introduced to enable already profiled importers to take delivery of their consignments without waiting for the usual customs procedure. The three names were contained in a public notice that was recently sighted by our correspondent on the notice board of the Port and Terminal Multi-purpose Service Limited, (PTML) Command of the Nigeria Customs Service.
According to the Nigeria Customs Service, while Toyota owed N82.5million, Dangote owed N18.2million, N80million was outstanding against Guinness.
It is especially created for manufacturers so as not to obstruct their production schedules.
The fast track system also allows consignees to move their cargoes to their warehouses from where customs will carry out assessment later.
More than 300 licensed Customs agents working for these defaulting companies have also been penciled down for punishment for their inability to ensure the payment of these debts.
Our correspondent learnt that the big-time importers allegedly took advantage of the fast track system.
Apart from the companies that were listed as defaulting, some of the clearing agencies that were also listed as risking revocation of their licenses include: Wealthy Honey investment, Libra circle Limited, Dansnom Resources Limited, Pajerry Nigeria Limited, Ayofat global services limited, Ana investment limited, Sulam Ventures Limited and Alpha Baro, among many others.
The PTML command of the Customs has however warned the defaulting companies to pay up or risk sanctions, which will include revocation of the licenses of their clearing agents.
The notice dated May 15th 2015 said: “The following should effect the payment of their unpaid assessment and provide evidence of payment or face cancellation”
It was signed by Assistant Comptroller of Customs Mr C. O. Niagwan in charge of post clearance audit of the PTML Command.
However, a staff of Toyota; Mr. Tola Olukilede explained that the firm is not in default.
He said “Toyota does not owe, I am in charge of all operations, we have a bonded warehouse and we have Customs officers in our bonded warehouse.
“The goods we have not paid for are the ones that came in this month and these goods cannot be sold until duty is paid.
“We do not usually owe Customs, we do not postpone payment of import duty because of the fluctuation of the exchange rate of the United States Dollar”.
Also, speaking in defence of Guinness, its Company Secretary, Mr. Sesan Shobowale, said that Guinness was not owing Customs import duty.
According to him, there is a communication line between Customs and Guinness through which any such issues would be resolved.http://shippingposition.com.ng/article/customs-fingers-dangote-guinness-toyota-alleged-n400million-import-duty-default
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