An investigation by SaharaReporters has revealed that Adewale Bashir Adeniyi, the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, has been involved in age falsification, using two different dates of birth to manipulate the system in his favor.
According to documents seen by SaharaReporters, Adeniyi claimed to be born on January 19, 1964, when he was employed by the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) in 1981 and when he applied to the customs service in 1990. However, he now claims to be born on January 13, 1966.
This age falsification has enabled him to remain in service beyond the mandatory retirement age of 60. Adeniyi has also altered his years of service to remain in the customs service.
The documents reveal that Adeniyi worked at the NRC from November 1981 to 1990 and included his nine years of public service experience in his customs documentation. He was appointed to the customs service on November 2, 1990, as an Assistant Superintendent of Customs.
Age falsification is a serious criminal offense in Nigeria, punishable by up to 14 years in prison. When contacted, Adeniyi directed SaharaReporters to the Customs spokesperson, Abdullahi Maiwada, who did not respond to multiple calls, texts, or WhatsApp messages.
This scandal raises questions about Adeniyi’s integrity and fitness for public office, and an investigation is warranted to hold him accountable for his actions.