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The Nigeria Customs Service has debunked the media reports linking Senator Jibrin Barau representing Kano North Senatorial District, to the seizure of 13 vehicles from a home in Kano.
The reports said the vehicles were seized from Barau’s residence in Kano. The senator denied the allegation.
Daily Trust this morning published an apology regretting its report that the vehicles were seized from the senator’s house.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the NCS said that “it is clear that whoever introduced the “Senator” angle to the story is out for pure mischief and does not represent the position of the service on this issue”.
The statement reads: “The attention of Nigeria Customs Service has been drawn to a mischievous publication in some prints and online platforms that the service has seized vehicles belonging to a Senator in Kano.
“Since this is capable of misleading the public into wrong insinuations, it is imperative to state the facts.
“That the Operatives of NCS Compliance Team, based on credible intelligence, trailed the movement of some smuggled vehicles from Maigatari, Jigawa State to a house at Magaji Rumfa, GRA Kano.
“On the 7th February, 2017, eleven (11) vehicles, 10 Hilux and one (1) Land cruiser jeep were retrieved from the house at Magaji Rumfa GRA, Kano and taken for detention at the HQ of Customs Area Command Kano.
“That the officers discovered there were no occupants in the house, hence the gate was forced opened to retrieve the smuggled vehicles.
“That investigation into the smuggling of the vehicles is still on to establish the true owner.
“From the above, it is clear that whoever introduced the “Senator” angle to the story is out for pure mischief and does not represent the position of the service on this issue.
“Accordingly, the false and misleading report should be discountenanced please”.