IKEJA – The Nigeria Customs Service, Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Command, weekend said that its personnel were not involved in the molestation of an official of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) on Thursday.
An official of FAAN had on Thursday been beaten up over parking fees at the cargo section of the MMIA.
Mrs Thelma Williams, Public Relations Officer, Airport Customs Command, told newsmen in Ikeja that the allegation that the official was beaten up by a Customs officer was untrue.
She said that Customs had investigated the incident and found that its officers did not molest the FAAN official.
According to her, the officers around the car park resumed work in the early hours and attempted to park at the facility, when a misunderstanding ensued over the conditions attached to the facility.
She said that the officers, however, did not molest the FAAN officials.
“The officials only drove into the car park, arising from failure of FAAN officials to grant them access, having introduced themselves and displayed their identity cards,’’ she said
Williams said that the Customs had engaged the management of FAAN on its mode of operations at the airport as it affects the use of public facilities, such as car parks.
She said that the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Mr Folorunsho Adegoke, had in a letter dated December 5, communicated to the airport manager the position of the command on FAAN’s request for toll payment.
According to her, the Controller had explained to FAAN that the entire airport area, from the end of the tarmac, apron, cargo section and the airside was designated in the Customs Excise Management Act.
She said the same legal document required FAAN to provide accommodation for the Customs Service at the airport, which included accessibility to offices for its officers.