The Nigeria Customs Service apprehended Abdul-Rahman Ibrahim, a man in his fifties, on charges of engaging in fraudulent activities and impersonating high-ranking government officials, including the Comptroller-General of Customs.
The official statement, shared on the NCS’s official communication platform on Wednesday, revealed that Customs Police Unit intelligence played a crucial role in the suspect’s arrest.
CSC Abdullahi Maiwada, the spokesperson for NCS, disclosed on Monday that Ibrahim had been falsely representing himself as the Comptroller-General of Customs, Chief of Staff to the President, and the Secretary of the Ministry of Interior.
The suspect allegedly duped numerous individuals, extorting over N1 million from them under the pretense of providing ‘job appointment letters.
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The National PRO highlighted that the arrest reflects the continuous efforts of the Nigeria Customs Service in combating criminals exploiting its name for fraudulent schemes.
Ibrahim reportedly confessed to his involvement and revealed accomplices, leading to further investigations and the intention to prosecute those involved.
During the arrest, Ibrahim was found in possession of counterfeit documents, including fake Customs and NSCDC appointment letters, along with forged introduction letters bearing the signatures of high-ranking government officials.
This incident follows the arrest of a fake woman customs officer, Rakiya Musa, in June 2023, by the Lagos police for allegedly defrauding unsuspecting members of the public.
In December 2023, the NCS management clarified that there was no ongoing recruitment exercise within the service. They issued a warning to the public about fake recruitment advertisements circulating on social media platforms.
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