Nigeria Customs Reacts To Reports That Its Boss, Hameed Ali Slumped, Flown Abroad For Medical Care

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says there is no truth in reports that its Comptroller-General, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) has been flown abroad for medical attention after slumping.

The Customs made the clarification in a statement on Sunday by its Public Relations Officer, Timi Bomodi in reaction to an online report that Col. Ali slumped while praying on Wednesday and had been flown out of the country with a private jet for medical attention.

According to Bomodi, the NCS boss is not sick, but rather on leave.

The Customs spokesperson cautioned those behind the report to beware of fake news and its consequences, adding that the service won’t be distracted from carrying out its constitutional assignments.

“To put the records straight, the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd.), is hale and hearty, and not ill as reported by an online media outlet. While the motive for concocting this story is unknown to the service, we want to reassure all our stakeholders and well-meaning Nigerians that all is well health-wise with the Comptroller General.

“We believe that good health and life itself are gifts from God Almighty and those to whom these gifts are bestowed are blessed indeed.

“Anyone who will think so negatively as to attribute ill health to a healthy person should be mindful of the legal consequences of spreading falsehood and take cognizance of the fact that karma itself is unsparing in its exactitude.

“The Comptroller General who throughout his tenure has sacrificed his time and energy to drive the reforms agenda of this administration has earned remarkable successes in restructuring and raising unprecedented revenue for the Service,” the statement reads.