Following his narrow escape from death when a trigger-happy Customs officer fired some shots at his vehicle at a checkpoint in December 2024, the Chief Executive Officer of Pelican Valley Nigeria Ltd, Dr Babatunde Adeyemo, has demanded the sum of N50million, a car replacement, and an apology letter from the Nigeria Customs Service
Adeyemo in a petition through his lawyer to the Comptroller, Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operating Unit, Zone A, Ikeja, Lagos State, demanded compensation for the damages caused as a result of the gunshot from the Customs officer.
The Pelican Valley CEO, according to the petition, is praying for an immediate replacement of his Mercedes Benz G.L. 450, either in cash based on the prevailing market value of the car “or to release a befitting substitute to our client. We are not talking about fixing or repairing the car. Please, note that our client is willing to surrender the car any day, any time.
“Payment of a compensation sum of N50,000,000 (Fifty Million Naira) only for loss of data, rebuilding of data, and replacement of the totally destroyed laptop. This is just to assuage and ameliorate the untold hardship now faced by our client due to the data loss as a result of the incident.
“An apology letter addressed to our client and published in two national dailies; and to commence an investigation into our complaints and identify the trigger-happy officer for sanctions and, where necessary, prosecution for attempted murder.”
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Customs Service has said it has identified the officer in the shooting incident involving Adeyemo.
Recall that on December 8, 2024, Adeyemo’s vehicle was shot at along the Imasayi-Abeokuta Road while on his way back from an event in the area.
Customs in its reaction also disclosed that an investigation had been launched into the incident, which occurred on December 8, 2024, at a checkpoint on the Orile Ibara Expressway.
The trigger-happy Customs officer reportedly fired at the moving vehicle conveying Adeyemo and three other persons.
Recounting the incident, Adeyemo said he would have been hit by the bullet if not for his laptop placed directly behind him, which took the impact of the bullet.
Customs Public Relations Officer, Federal Operations Unit Zone A, Ikeja, Chief Superintendent of Customs, Theophilus Duniya, assured in a statement that the officer’s misconduct would not be swept under the carpet.
The statement read, “The Nigeria Customs Service takes incidents of misconduct very seriously, and the shooting incident of December 8, 2024, by an operative of Federal Operations Unit Zone A, is no exception. Comptroller Kola Oladeji has swiftly taken action, launching a disciplinary committee to investigate the matter. The personnel involved in the incident have been identified and are currently in detention, awaiting further disciplinary sanctions.
“In line with the service’s commitment to professionalism and discipline, Comptroller Oladeji has also ordered the immediate replacement of the damaged laptop and the repair of the damaged vehicle. This prompt response demonstrates the service’s dedication to making amends and ensuring that such incidents are thoroughly addressed.
“It’s worth noting that the Nigeria Customs Service has a clear framework for addressing cases of misconduct.”
