Nigeria Customs Comptroller General gets dragged in age scandal

The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Bashir Adeniyi is at the center of a controversy following revelations by SaharaReporters that he manipulated his date of birth to extend his tenure in the public service.

According to documents obtained by the media outlet, Adeniyi has presented two different dates of birth during his career, allegedly to manipulate the system in his favor.

Discrepancies in Dates of Birth: The investigation by SaharaReporters found that Adeniyi initially used January 19, 1964, as his birth date when he joined the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) in 1981 and subsequently in his application to the Nigeria Customs Service in 1990.

Based on this birth date, Adeniyi turned 60 on January 19, 2024, which is the mandatory retirement age for public servants. However, it has been revealed that Adeniyi now claims January 13, 1966, as his birth date in his latest curriculum vitae, effectively making him two years younger and enabling him to remain in service beyond the age of 60.

Manipulation of Service Records: The documents further reveal that Adeniyi not only altered his birth date but also manipulated his years of service. Adeniyi’s career started with the NRC, where he worked from November 1981 until he joined the Nigeria Customs Service in 1990. In his documentation for the customs job, he listed his NRC employment as ongoing by stating “November 1981 to Date,” a move that seemingly extends his experience unjustly.

Educational Background: Adeniyi’s educational journey includes attending Modakeke High School from September 1974 to June 1979 and Ejigbo Baptist High School from September 1980 to June 1981. He later earned a BSc in International Relations from the University of Ife (1983-1987) and certificates in Public Relations from the Nigerian Institute of Journalism in 1989 and 1990. Additionally, he studied French at Alliance Francaise in Ibadan.

Legal Implications: Falsification of age is considered a serious criminal offense in Nigeria, classified under forgery. According to Section 463 of the Criminal Code, forgery carries a penalty of up to three years imprisonment. The Penal Code further stipulates penalties of up to 14 years for forgery offenses.

Responses and Reactions: When contacted for his reaction, Adeniyi referred SaharaReporters to the Customs spokesperson, Abdullahi Maiwada, who did not respond to repeated inquiries. Efforts to obtain a statement from Adeniyi through direct messages also went unanswered.