*Says impounded trucks conveying building materials, not food
*Insist trucks not intercepted at Gamboru Ngala border town
By; SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri
Borno State Trucks Association has denied allegations levelled against their 21 trucks intercepted by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday at Bama Entrance Gate Konduga road Maiduguri, allegedly carrying contrabands or smuggling food items outside Nigeria.
The association also refuted the allegation that the heavy duty vehicles/ trucks were also conveying foodstuff to Gamboru Ngala and Banki border towns at the time of the interception.
The Chairman of the association, Alhaji Bako Modu who led other members of the association to NUJ Press Center Maiduguri yesterday to a press briefing with journalists, said none of the seized vehicles was carrying banned or illegal goods any where as all the vehicles were registered, cleared and given way bills by the Borno State Clearing Agents Association before they set for their trips.
He also said that all the vehicles as at the time of the interception, were carrying Dangote bags of cement, iron rods and building materials with specifications based on the new law of 40 tonnes per truck worth N72 million, pointing out that, both the vehicles and goods are worth about N400 million, lamenting that, the 21 drivers have been in detention of the EFCC for the past three days without any trial, despite the hot weather of Borno environment.
Modu further explained that all efforts through the association to secure bail of the 21 drivers and collect their vehicles, proved abortive as the Zonal Coordinator of EFCC told them that their officials acted on directives from the above and on instruction from EFCC headquarters Abuja.
He also alleged that some of their property are even getting missing from the vehicles parked outside the premises of the EFCC and they are yet to be told their offence, neither did they get any notice or correspondence from any security agent about their building materials as contrabands or smuggled materials.
He called on the government as a matter of importance, to intervene and impress on EFCC to release their drivers and vehicles, which are their hard earned resources that they do business with for over 17 years in Borno State peacefully and obediently as law abiding citizens that have never caused any havoc or crisis.
The chairman added that efforts are being made to ensure the recovery of their vehicles and goods as well as release of their drivers through the legal means by consulting their lawyers.
“We assure you that, with the security situation in the state, we don’t intend to engage in any violence or public disturbance, but follow the legal procedure to ensure justice is done to us.
“The association will however, not rest on its oars to ensure that justice prevails and fairness takes its course. It has not been also easy for us at this crucial period of economic hardships biting everybody since EFCC seized our vehicles and goods.
“We the members of the trucks association in Borno State have been legitimately doing our business for decades lawfully and complying with the stipulated rules and regulations of the government and security agents guiding our business. We know the law and security situation in the state very well before and during the insurgency,” Modu said.
He however, reiterated that as lawful traders and businessmen, none of their vehicles was intercepted at Gamboru Ngala border town as alleged, noting that, all the 21 vehicles that were intercepted by the EFCC on Tuesday at Bama road gate and despite the fact that some of the vehicles were carrying building materials enroute Bama, Kirawa, Kawuri, Pulka, Gwoza, Mafa, Dikwa, Gamboru and Ngala axis as usual”.
A representative of the Borno State Clearing Agents Association, Alhaji Gaddafi Mustapha also added weight to the explanation saying, “all the vehicles were screened and cleared not to be carrying any contraband or smuggled goods before they set for their trips.
“We checked all the vehicles and issued them their way bills before they set for their journey then later we were told the EFCC intercepted the vehicles and diverted them with the drivers to their office at Tudun Wada area, off Old Jos Road Opposite El Kanemi School of Theology on excuse that the vehicles were intercepted because they were carrying foodstuff trying to smuggle the food items out of Nigeria from Maiduguri”.
He said that it was not true that the vehicles the clearing agents cleared were carrying food items or contraband, neither smuggling foodstuff as alleged by the officials of the EFCC and that is why the lawyers of the association are now handling the matter to ensure immediate release of the drivers and vehicles.
