A suspected job recruitment scammer has been nabbed by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for allegedly attempting to manipulate the recruitment process while falsely claiming to be an aide to the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
During a press briefing at the NCS Headquarters in Abuja on Friday, Assistant Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwada, the National Public Relations Officer, revealed that the suspect, identified as Okoli Okana Boniface, was apprehended on June 16, 2025. He added that the service has observed a growing wave of online fraud involving fake recruitment and auction schemes falsely associated with the NCS.
“We have observed a disturbing rise in fake accounts bearing the names and images of the Comptroller-General of Customs, the National PRO, and even retired senior officers, all falsely claiming to offer jobs and auction opportunities,” Maiwada said.
Maiwada condemned the impersonation and fraudulent schemes as “criminal acts aimed at tarnishing the Service’s reputation and defrauding innocent Nigerians.”
He maintained that the service does not carry out recruitment or auction processes via social media, warning that citizens who engage with such unverified platforms risk being defrauded.
According to the NCS spokesman, Boniface’s activities were reported and “thoroughly investigated by the Customs Police Unit. Findings confirmed it was a calculated attempt to compromise the integrity of the recruitment exercise,” he stated.
To protect the public, the NCS urged citizens to verify any claims regarding recruitment or auction through official and verified channels.
“We advise the public to disregard messages or offers from unverified sources and to rely solely on our verified platforms for accurate information.
“The Nigeria Customs Service remains committed to identifying, exposing, and prosecuting those who seek to compromise our operations through deceit”
