The Federal Character Commission (FCC) has dragged the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and its Comptroller-General, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, before the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged violations of the Federal Character Act during the Service’s 2025/2026 recruitment exercise.
The criminal proceedings were filed under Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/772/2026 at the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division.
The Commission disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday, November 13, 2026, explaining that the legal action followed its efforts to obtain relevant recruitment records, monitor the exercise and ensure compliance with the Federal Character principle.
According to the FCC, the Nigeria Customs Service allegedly committed four violations of the Federal Character Commission (Establishment, etc.) Act, Cap. F7, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
One of the allegations against the Customs Service is its failure to provide requested recruitment documents, including nominal rolls, despite a formal request submitted by the Commission on March 25, 2026.
The FCC also accused the Service of failing to submit relevant stages of its recruitment process for monitoring and allegedly ignoring a directive issued on October 23, 2026, ordering the suspension of certain recruitment and training activities pending further review.
Furthermore, the Commission alleged that the Customs Service failed to provide clear recruitment criteria and comprehensive eligibility guidelines.
It explained that the absence of these documents made it difficult to determine how available vacancies were distributed among the different states and geopolitical zones of the country.
Defending its decision to approach the court, the FCC maintained that monitoring recruitment exercises, accessing relevant employment records and ensuring equitable representation in public appointments were responsibilities established by law.
The Commission, under the leadership of its Executive Chairman, Hon. Hulayat Motunrayo Omidiran, insisted that it would not abandon its statutory responsibilities because of pressure from any institution or the position occupied by any public office holder.
It clarified that its responsibility was not to conduct recruitment exercises on behalf of government agencies but to ensure that employment opportunities in the public service were distributed fairly and in accordance with the Federal Character principle.
“The Commission is not a recruitment agency. Our responsibility is to monitor, assess and enforce compliance with the Federal Character principle in public appointments and recruitment,” the statement said.
The FCC further explained that access to recruitment records, transparent procedures and clearly defined eligibility requirements were essential for effective monitoring and enforcement of the law.
It stressed that no ministry, department or agency of government was above the law or exempted from its statutory oversight responsibilities.
The Commission added that taking the matter to court demonstrated its determination to move beyond policy statements and ensure that government institutions practically comply with the Federal Character principle.
However, the FCC assured that it would respect due process, the independence of the judiciary and the constitutional rights of all parties as the case progresses.
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The statement was signed by Ademola Lawrence, spokesperson for the Federal Character Commission, in Abuja.
The court proceedings now place the Nigeria Customs Service and its Comptroller-General, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, at the centre of a legal dispute over compliance with recruitment regulations and equitable representation in federal government employment.
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