Left feeling unsafe and exhausted after a 17-hour flight from Houston, Adhekegba reluctantly paid N1 million
Shocking! How Lagos Airport Customs Officers Allegedly Robbed US Returnee of N1m, Demand Daughter’s Gift
Two Customs officers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, have come under fire after allegedly extorting a Nigerian returnee, Mr. Oke Adhekegba, of N1 million and brazenly demanding a pair of sandals meant for his daughter.
According to a report by Foundation for Investigative Journalism, the disturbing incident occurred on May 16 when Adhekegba, who flew in from the United States aboard a British Airways flight, landed at MMIA with five suitcases containing personal effects, including clothes and gifts for family members.
Recounting the harrowing experience, Adhekegba identified the officers as “Adebayo” and “Ugboma,” both attached to the Nigeria Customs Service at the airport. According to him, the duo flagged his luggage for “customs clearance” and initially demanded a staggering N5 million under the guise of revenue payment.
“They tossed me around until about 9pm, making threats and insisting I pay,” he said. “I had thought they would provide a government account number, but no — it was a female PoS merchant they brought. The merchant, whom I am convinced is their accomplice, gave me a PalmPay account number 9551197XXX under the name Shaaibu Rabiu.”
Left feeling unsafe and exhausted after a 17-hour flight from Houston, Adhekegba reluctantly paid N1 million.
“I had nothing incriminating on me or in my luggage,” he said. “They claimed I had five pairs of shoes and that one of my bags was worth $5,000 — but the price tag on it clearly read $106. It was pure robbery.”
Shockingly, Adhekegba said the ordeal didn’t end there.
“After robbing me, Officer Adebayo still had the effrontery to ask for a pair of sandals I bought for my daughter,” he added. “Some people told me this is the order of the day. They harass people like this daily. It needs to stop.”
The FIJ report on the incident also disclosed that efforts to reach Comptroller Effiong Harrison, who heads the Customs command at the airport, yielded no response. Similarly, the Customs spokesperson, Abdullahi Maiwada, failed to answer calls or respond to text messages seeking clarification or comment.
This incident highlights a broader culture of impunity and corruption among airport officials, a reality previously confirmed by Olubunmi Oluwaseun Kuku, Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). In December, Kuku revealed that some senior security officials at the airport benefit from extortion proceeds.
“I’ve heard Customs and AVSEC officers say they don’t receive pensions — so extortion is their fallback. This has to stop,” she said. “If your organisation is caught, then it means you as a leader have failed.”
Similarly, the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), in its latest report, named the Nigeria Customs Service as one of the most inefficient agencies, citing rent-seeking behaviour and lack of disciplinary action against erring staff.
As Adhekegba’s case gains public attention, calls are growing louder for accountability, reform, and the protection of travelers from institutionalised extortion. Read More
