The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reacted to a report credited to an online newspaper (Not Newsclickng.com) that the Comptroller General of the Service, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd.) slumped and was flown abroad for emergency medical attention.
The NCS in a press statement by its
National Public Relations Officer, DC Timi Bomodi and sent exclusively to Newsclickng.com on Sunday said the CG was hale and hearty and is on official leave and not on a foreign medical trip as published by the unnamed medium.
Bomodi said the Ali-led leadership of the NCS is focused on living to its responsibilities of raising the revenue target of the Service and won’t be distracted. He however said the Service may explore available legal options to serve as deterrent to other publishing outfits aimed at bringing the NCS and management officials to disrepute.
Read full statement below:
PRESS STATEMENT
The attention of the Nigeria Customs Service has been drawn to an online report stating that the Comptroller General of Customs has slumped and was consequently flown abroad for medical treatment. To put the records straight, the Comptroller General of Customs Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd.) is hale and hearty and not ill as reported by a little known online media outlet. While the motive for concocting this story is unknown to the Service, we want to reassure all our stakeholders and well-meaning Nigerians that all is well health-wise with the Comptroller General. We believe that good health and life itself are gifts from God Almighty and those to whom these gifts are bestowed are blessed indeed.
Anyone who will think so negatively as to attribute ill health to a healthy person should be mindful of the legal consequences of spreading falsehood and take cognizance of the fact that karma itself is unsparing in its exactitude.
The Comptroller General who throughout his tenure has sacrificed his time and energy to drive the reforms agenda of this administration has earned remarkable successes in restructuring and raising unprecedented revenue for the Service. We know that some persons are trying to take advantage of his absence resulting from a well earned official leave to stir unnecessary controversy in the polity. This will not distract NCS Management from carrying out its brief as it seeks to rebuild a world-class institution worthy of the prayers and support of all Nigerians.
DC Timi Bomodi
National Public Relations Officer
For: Comptroller-General of Customs
27 March, 2022
