The Federal Character Commission (FCC) has instituted criminal proceedings against the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and its Comptroller-General, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, over alleged violations of the Federal Character principle in the Service’s 2025/2026 recruitment exercise.
The case, filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, centres on allegations of failure to comply with statutory requirements on recruitment monitoring, transparency, accountability and equitable representation of Nigerians across states and geopolitical zones.
Key Highlights
- Federal Character Commission takes Nigeria Customs Service and CG Bashir Adeniyi to court.
- The case concerns alleged violations of the Federal Character principle in the 2025/2026 recruitment exercise.
- FCC accuses Customs of withholding recruitment records, including nominal rolls.
- Commission alleges that Customs disregarded its October 23, 2026, suspension directive.
- Recruitment transparency and equitable representation are central issues in the legal dispute.
- The allegations are now before the Federal High Court in Abuja for determination.
FCC Accuses Customs of Withholding Recruitment Records
According to the charges, the Commission accused the Nigeria Customs Service of failing to provide relevant recruitment documents, including nominal rolls, despite a formal request dated March 25, 2026.
The FCC also alleged that the Service failed to submit the relevant stages of its recruitment process for the Commission’s monitoring, as required under the Federal Character Commission Act.
The Commission maintained that public institutions are legally required to make recruitment records available for monitoring to ensure compliance with established federal character guidelines.
FCC Challenges Customs Over Suspension Directive
Another major allegation against the Customs Service concerns its purported failure to comply with a directive issued by the Commission on October 23, 2026.
The directive reportedly ordered the suspension of specified recruitment and training activities pending a review by the Commission.
The FCC is also accusing the Service of failing to provide clear recruitment criteria and comprehensive eligibility guidelines.
According to the Commission, the absence of these details prevented it from properly determining how available vacancies were distributed among states and geopolitical zones.
Federal Character Commission Insists on Fair Recruitment
The Commission maintained that access to recruitment records, monitoring of employment processes and enforcement of equitable representation are statutory responsibilities that all public institutions must respect.
It further emphasised that recruitment exercises conducted by federal agencies must comply with the Federal Character principle to ensure fairness and equal opportunities for qualified Nigerians, irrespective of their states of origin.
The legal action follows earlier efforts by the Commission to obtain relevant recruitment documents and ensure that the Customs recruitment exercise complies with constitutional and statutory requirements.
2025/2026 Customs Recruitment Faces Legal Scrutiny
The court action has placed the Nigeria Customs Service’s 2025/2026 recruitment exercise under legal scrutiny, particularly regarding transparency, compliance with regulatory directives and fair representation of applicants from across the country.
The outcome of the proceedings could have implications for the recruitment process and the enforcement of Federal Character regulations across federal government institutions.
However, the allegations against the Nigeria Customs Service and its Comptroller-General remain before the Federal High Court for determination. No finding of guilt has been established by the court.
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