A Benue State-based car dealer, who wished to be simply identified as Alhassan, has narrated how Anthony Essien Umoette, an officer of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), extorted N40,000 from him.

Alhassan told FIJ that he was travelling from Akwa to Benue State when the incident happened on October 17, 2022.

“On October 16, I was driving a second-hand vehicle I just bought in Onitsha to my base in Benue State when I got stopped by Anthony Essien Umoette and other customs officers along Oji River Road, old Awka Road, Anambra State,” Alhassan said.

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“The vehicle is a Hijet mini truck with all the required customs papers.

“I presented the papers to Umoette, and after he checked them, he surprisingly claimed they were fake. I instantly contested his claims because I knew my papers were genuine.

“But he insisted that the papers were fake, adding that he would only allow me go my way if I gave him N50,000. I immediately told him that I did not have that kind of amount on me.”

Alhassan told FIJ that despite making several pleas, the customs officer did not only refuse to let him go, but he also made him spend a night at an abandoned hotel.

“When all the efforts I made to convince the officer proved abortive, I was forced to pay him N40,000,” the vehicle dealer said.

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“I passed the night with the officers and some other innocent people whose cars were stopped too at a place not too far from their checkpoint. I begged Umoette all night to release my vehicle, but he did not.

“I was made to park my vehicle on the premises of the abandoned Stargate Hotel. All other victims of the officers’ extortion were made to park their vehicles there too.

“He held on to his allegation that my papers were fake, and at a point, I became helpless. After several hours, he later reduced the amount to N40,000.

“That was when I called my brother at home and he sent the money to me.”

Apart from knowing Umoette’s full name, Alhassan said he was also able to get the first names of two officers with him and their states of origin.

“When he reduced the amount for me, he then gave me his account number to transfer the N40,000 to. I was able to get his name in full through that,” Alhassan said.

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“His two colleagues on the team on that day were one Mohammed from Niger State and one Buba from Maiduguri, Borno State.

“I knew the states they came from through my interactions with them.”

FIJ learnt that Anambra State, where the incident occurred, is attached to the Zone C headquarters of the NCS.

FIJ made several calls to the telephone number made available on the outfit’s website, but they were not answered. A mail sent to them on Friday had also not been responded to at press time.