•Tinunu and David-Albert
A 72-year-old American returnee, Olukayode David-Albert, has sought the intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and concerned authorities over his goods currently in the custody of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
He urged the president and relevant authorities to intervene and secure the release of his goods including two vehicles.
Speaking with newsmen in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, David-Albert stated that as a returnee of almost three decades in the United States, he was saddened by the incident because all his efforts to secure release of his goods had been frustrated.
While narrating his ordeal, he said, “I returned to Nigeria on September 17, 2024 and my container arrived at Lekki, Lagos on October 3, and was discharged on October 3, 2024 but I was told my container could not be located until October 27, 2024. Another news got to me that my container had been taken to Libra Terminal in Ikorodu, thus the commencement of clearing the container was delayed for almost a month.
“To my surprise, I was told that if I refused to offer the officers some money, the customs valuation office will not process the required forms for the payment of the duty on my container, and they may eventually claim that my container is not cleared within the statute of limitation and thereby auction my properties.
“I want to do the right thing, but some people are circumventing it. Their plan is to auction my goods, but they are now trying to punish me now that they are aware that their secret has been leaked.
“Most Nigerians abroad are afraid of coming home due to the situation of the country. They prefer to stay out there instead of coming back home to assist the nation.”
