The Chief Executive Officer of Pellican Valley Nigerian Ltd, Babatunde Adeyemo, has demanded the sum of N50m, a car replacement, and an apology letter from the Nigeria Customs Service following his near-death experience with a a trigger-happy customs officer.
In a petition to the Comptroller, Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operating Unit, Zone A, Ikeja, Lagos State, Adeyemo, through his lawyer, requested compensation for the damages caused as a result of a gunshot from the officer.
The petition prayed for an immediate replacement of our client’s 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 personnel in the shooting incident involving the Pelican boss.
The PUNCH had reported that Adeyemo’s vehicle was shot at along the Imasayi-Abeokuta Road while returning from an event on December 8, 2024.
The NCS also revealed that an investigation had been launched into the incident, which occurred on December 8, 2024, at a checkpoint on the Orile Ibara Expressway.
The officer in question was reported to have fired at the moving vehicle conveying Adeyemo and three aides.
The Pelican Boss claimed that he would have been shot had it not been for the laptop placed directly behind him, which took the impact of the bullet.
In a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer, Federal Operations Unit Zone A, Ikeja, Chief Superintendent of Customs, Theophilus Duniya, stated that the misconduct would not be swept under.
It stated, “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.”
