Ogun State-based real estate entrepreneur and Chief Executive Officer of Pelican Valley Nigeria Limited, Dr Babatunde Adeyemo, has withdrawn his formal complaints against the trigger-happy operative of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), who recently shot at his vehicle.
This is just as he slammed the NCS Public Relations Department for not being strategic towards salvaging the poor public perception of the organisation among Nigerians.
Adeyemo, who escaped death on December 8, 2024, after his vehicle was shot at by an unnamed Customs operative while returning from an event in the Ibese area of the state, said he has forgiven the culprit and has decided not to pursue any formal action on the matter.
He also pleaded with the NCS and its leadership to give the officer, who has been in detention, a “second chance” and “not relieve him of his job.”
Adeyemo disclosed this on Thursday evening in Abeokuta shortly after a meeting with senior officials of NCS over the shooting incident.
“In a country where many youths are either into Yahoo or planning Japa, we need to continue to encourage those who are willing to work legitimately. Hence, we don’t have to throw away the baby with the bath water. Blessing, I believe, has learnt his lessons. He should go and sin no more,” Adeyemo said.
Recall that after the near-fatal incident, Adeyemo filed a formal complaint, demanding N50 million in compensation and a replacement of the vehicle.
Adeyemo also berated the NCS PR unit following its disposition to the incident, saying he decided to overlook the matter out of sheer pity for the young erring operative.
In his remarks, an Assistant Comptroller of Customs, Mr Olabode Akinola, noted that NCS does not condone any form of indiscipline or misconduct, adding that any officer found culpable of wrongdoing receives appropriate sanction, including dismissal and possible prosecution, depending on the gravity of the matter and level of such officer.
Another officer, Mr Gafar Adejumo, who also spoke at the meeting, explained that the Customs delegation came to plead on behalf of the erring operative and that the outcome of the parley would determine his fate.
A Deputy Superintendent of Customs, Mr. Kaffu Samuel, also present at the meeting expressed gratitude to God that the shooting incident did not lead to loss of life, noting that the NCS was ready to restore the items lost to the shooting.
In his contribution, the Chief Imam of Owu Kingdom, Alhaji Kehinde Sulaimon, who quoted copiously from the Qur’an, pleaded with the Pelican boss to take the incident as a temptation and test from Almighty Allah.
Some of those in attendance at the meeting were a legal consultant to Pelican Valley, Michael Figbele; Mr Ayobami Akanji (IAS), Alhaji Ismaheel Tayese (an Owu Chief), Omoba Owolabi Adepega (Baale Ojo), Mr Ismaheel Alarape (NCS Superintendent Officer).
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