The House of Representatives on Wednesday expressed concern over the rising prevalence of “one chance” criminal activities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the dire situations victims face.
During plenary, Hon. Billy Osewaru, representing Orhionmwon/Uhunmwode Federal Constituency of Edo State, highlighted the lack of collaboration between the Nigerian Police and financial institutions, which hampers victims’ ability to recover stolen funds.
Referencing the Central Bank of Nigeria’s directive mandating the linkage of bank accounts to phone numbers, Osewaru urged the police and financial institutions, including Opay and Money Point, to prioritize such cases and provide timely assistance to ensure justice for victims.
The motion has been referred to the Committee on Financial Institutions for further action.
In a related development, the House also initiated an investigation into the Nigerian Customs Service following reports of smuggling and the maltreatment of Nigerians during operations.
This decision follows an incident in Badagry, Lagos State, where a journalist was allegedly assaulted earlier this month while attempting to record activities in what he described as a “smuggling zone.”
Hon. Oluwaseun Whingan, who sponsored the motion, criticized the behavior of customs officers and called for a review of the Nigerian Customs Service’s legal framework and operational conduct.
The motion has been directed to the Committee on Customs and Excise for further legislative review.