The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko Inde, has threatened to dismiss from the force Chief Superintendent of Customs F.C. Nwaeze of the Seme Command, who is alleged to have bathed one Ms. Tope Fadipe with acid.
The action followed an exclusive publication of SaharaReporters yesterday which detailed how the sad event happened two weeks ago.
"We wish by this publication to reiterate the Zero tolerance of the CGC and his Management Team to any act of indiscipline or official misdemeanor in whatever guise," a statement signed by Comptroller I. M Nuhu of the Federal Operations Unit in Ikeja, said.
Pointing out that the CGC has condemned the heinous crime in its entirety, the statement said Mr. Dikko Inde consequently ordered a full investigation.
"The CGC has further directed that should the officer be found culpable as alleged, severe disciplinary actions which includes (sic) dismissal would be taken against the officer to serve as deterrent to others."
In order to mitigate the emotional trauma of the Fadipe family, the statement said Mr. Inde promised, to take full responsibility for the medical treatment of the victim, even if it entails medical treatment abroad, should the need arise.
The statement said Mr. Nwaeze, who was reported to have boasted he could not be sanctioned, has been handed over to the Special Criminal Investigation Dept (SCID) in Yaba, Lagos, for interrogation. That would be followed by a Customs in-house disciplinary committee "to deal decisively" with the matter.
"The CGC and indeed the entire Customs Management wish to express their complete resentment with such callous and irresponsible conduct, which certainly is not in the character of Nigeria Customs Service as a disciplined organization," the statement warned, adding that the service will continue to be the pride of Nigeria in conduct and character.
Tope is said to have been an employee in a food store run by Mr. Nwaeze's family. On May 9, she was accused of failing to remit sales of N50,000 stock sales.
Community residents said that Mr. Nwaeze became upset when she refuted the allegation, leading to a heated argument in which he allegedly doused her with a deadly acid. A photo of the victim showed her horrendously burnt body.
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