Akin Kuponiyi

Two Chinese men, Shu Xiang Quan, and Wu Sheng He, were today , arraigned before a Lagos Federal High Court, Lagos  by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), for attempting to evade payment of customs duty.

Custom alleged that the two Chinese men who have their warehouse within Adeniyi Jones, Ikeja, Lagos, on December 23, 2016, loaded 500 sacks of raw hide/skin and unprocessed animal scales for the purpose of exporting them to Hong Kong, without paying the stipulated export duty as mandatory by the Schedule of 6 Export Prohibition List 3 and 7, ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET), Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) 2012-2019.

The offence, according to Customs is contrary to sections 64(1)(b) and 63(b) of the Customs and Excise Management Act, C45, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The two accused persons whom the charges were read to through an interpreter, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The presiding judge, Justice Muslim Sule Hassan, has adjourned the hearing of the Chinese bail applications till January 18, 2017.

The judge also ordered the remand of the two Chinese in Prison’s custody pending when their bail applications will be determined.