Nigeria Content Online

A self-proclaimed
anti-corruption crusader, Emmanuel Nwachukwu, has asked a Federal High
Court in Abuja to compel the Code of Conduct Bureau to investigate and
prosecute a former Comptroller of Customs, Rasheed Taiwo Owolabi, for
allegedly failing to declare his assets after retiring from the Nigeria
Customs Service.
In an application
for judicial review filed through his counsel, Amobi Nzelu, on Friday,
Mr. Nwachukwu asked the court to compel the Code of Conduct Bureau, the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Inspector General
of Police, and the Nigeria Customs Service Board to investigate Mr.
Owolabi for several offences including non-declaration of assets,
illegal acquisition of wealth, and abuse of office.
Mr. Nwachukwu has
also asked the Nigeria Customs Services Board to investigate the
certificate, purportedly acquired from the University of Paris, which
Mr. Owolabi presented during his employment, as well as the retired
officer’s National Youth Service Corps discharge certificate.

He has
asked the board to withhold all of Mr. Owolabi’s entitlements until the
determination of the case.
Mr. Nwachukwu told
the court that he had written to several anti-graft agencies asking
them to investigate Mr. Owolabi for the offences listed in the
application, but so far none of them has responded to his letter.
Mr. Nwachukwu
accused Mr. Owolabi of acquiring stupendous wealth while he was serving
in the customs. He listed some of the properties allegedly owned by Mr.
Owolabi and reminded the court that the EFCC has the right, under the
Act establishing it, to investigate those assets.

Embattled officer

This is not the
first time the retired customs officer has found himself tangled in the
judiciary. Mr. Owolabi joined the customs service in 1980 and was
retired in 2009. He has, however, sued the customs board and the
present comptroller-general, Abdullahi Inde Dikko, challenging his
January 2010 retirement.
In March, Mr.
Owolabi went to the Federal High Court in Abuja to seek reinstatement
to his office, demanding N500 million in damages for what he called his
“unlawful and illegal retirement.” The retired officer claimed he was
not due to leave office until 2015 and called for payment of all his
salaries, emoluments, and entitlements from the time he was retired
until his due retirement date.