FCC Drags Customs Boss Adeniyi To Court Over Alleged Recruitment Breaches
By Victor Oriola
ABUJA — The Federal Character Commission (FCC) has filed a four-count criminal charge against the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and its Comptroller-General, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, over alleged violations of federal character laws during the agency’s 2025/2026 recruitment exercise.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/772/2026 and instituted at the Federal High Court in Abuja, accuses the Customs leadership of undermining constitutional mandates designed to ensure equitable state representation in federal appointments.
According to a statement issued by FCC spokesperson Lawrence Ademola, the legal action stems from the Customs Service’s persistent refusal to cooperate with regulatory oversight.
Specifically, the commission alleges that the NCS failed to submit requested nominal rolls and key recruitment documentation following a formal directive issued in March 2026.
The charge sheet further accuses the agency of sidelining the FCC monitoring team during critical stages of the hiring process.
Additionally, the commission contends that the Customs boss defied an October 23, 2026 directive instructing the service to suspend specific training and recruitment activities pending an official review.
The legal showdown follows weeks of public controversy and complaints from applicants after several shortlisted candidates were dropped ahead of scheduled training, prompting calls from FCC officials to halt the exercise over transparency concerns.
As of press time, no date has been fixed for the arraignment, and the Nigeria Customs Service has yet to issue an official response to the criminal charges.
