How a Man Was Allegedly Scammed of ₦96 Million in Customs Headquarters — VDM Raises Alarm

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How a Man Was Allegedly Scammed of ₦96 Million in Customs Headquarters — VDM Raises Alarm


A fresh allegation involving the Nigeria Customs Service has attracted public attention after social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), claimed that a Nigerian businessman was allegedly defrauded of ₦96 million in a transaction connected to eight containers.


According to VDM, what made the case particularly disturbing was that the businessman allegedly travelled to Abuja and was taken to the Nigeria Customs Service headquarters, where he reportedly met a senior Customs officer inside the office of an Assistant Comptroller-General (ACG).


The allegation was made by VDM in a video circulated on social media on October 7, 2026. The claims have not been independently established, and neither the identity of the accused officer nor that of the alleged victim has been publicly confirmed in the reports reviewed.


How the Alleged Deal Started


According to accounts attributed to VDM, the businessman was allegedly informed that several containers at a Lagos port were available for auction.


The businessman was reportedly told that eight containers were available, with each container allegedly valued at approximately ₦12 million.


Eight containers at ₦12 million each would amount to:


₦12 million × 8 = ₦96 million.


The businessman allegedly believed the transaction was genuine because it was presented as a Customs-related auction involving seized or overtime cargo.


Rather than immediately paying the money privately, VDM said the businessman wanted additional confirmation. He allegedly insisted on meeting the Customs official who was supposedly responsible for the auction.


That decision reportedly took the matter from a normal business conversation to the Nigeria Customs Service headquarters in Abuja.


The Visit to Customs Headquarters


According to VDM's account, the businessman travelled to Abuja and was taken to the Customs headquarters in Maitama.


The Nigeria Customs Service confirms that its headquarters is located at No. 2 Lake Taal Close, off Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja.


VDM alleged that the businessman was eventually taken into the office of an Assistant Comptroller-General.


The meeting reportedly gave the businessman greater confidence that the proposed transaction was legitimate.


According to the allegations, instructions were subsequently given for the transaction to proceed, after which the businessman allegedly paid the full ₦96 million.


This part of the story is central to the controversy because the businessman reportedly believed that the presence of senior Customs personnel and the meeting inside an official office meant the transaction had been properly authorised.


The Containers That Allegedly Never Appeared


The situation reportedly changed after the payment.


VDM alleged that the businessman later discovered that the containers he had paid for could not be located.


According to one account of VDM's claims, the businessman eventually discovered that the containers he had supposedly purchased did not exist as represented.


That was when the businessman allegedly realised that the transaction might have been a scam.


Reports also say that the businessman was said to have documents, travel records and WhatsApp conversations connected to the transaction. However, those materials have not been independently examined or authenticated by the reports reviewed.


Why the Allegation Is Raising Questions


The major question surrounding the case is not simply how someone could lose ₦96 million.


It is how such a large payment could allegedly be made after the businessman had reportedly gone to an official government headquarters seeking confirmation.


If the allegations are eventually established, questions could arise about whether official positions, offices or identities were used to give credibility to a fraudulent transaction.


However, it is important to distinguish between an allegation and an established fact.


At the time of publication, the reports reviewed did not contain a public response from the Nigeria Customs Service specifically addressing the ₦96 million allegation. The officer allegedly connected to the matter has also not been publicly identified in the reports reviewed.


What the Official Customs Auction Process Says


The allegation also highlights why members of the public need to be extremely careful when dealing with supposed Customs auctions.


Nigeria Customs Service documentation describes an official e-auction system. Its published guidelines say prospective participants should register through the designated auction platform, possess a valid Tax Identification Number and pay prescribed fees through the platform.


The Customs documentation also states that winning bids are subject to validation and that winners are required to provide appropriate documentation and identification when claiming their goods.


The existence of these procedures makes unofficial payment arrangements particularly important to verify.


A person being introduced to a government official, taken into an office or shown official-looking documents should not automatically be treated as proof that a transaction is genuine.


VDM's Demand for Accountability


VDM has used the case to raise questions about how such an alleged transaction could happen and why a businessman would reportedly feel confident enough to transfer ₦96 million after visiting a government office.


He has called attention to the alleged loss and demanded accountability over the money.


Other reports say the businessman has sought the return of his money and has taken steps connected to the dispute, although details concerning any ongoing legal proceedings have not been independently established.


There are also additional allegations circulating about people connected to the matter and the handling of the dispute. Those claims remain unverified and should not be treated as established facts without evidence or official findings.


What Happens Next?


The most important development now would be an official investigation and response from the relevant authorities.


Several questions remain unanswered:


- Who exactly received the ₦96 million?

- What bank account received the payment?

- Were the eight containers actually listed for Customs auction?

- Did the containers exist?

- Was the alleged transaction officially authorised?

- What role, if any, did the senior Customs officer play?

- Has the businessman recovered any of the money?

- Has a formal complaint been filed with the Nigeria Customs Service, police or EFCC?

- What evidence exists to support or contradict the allegations?


Until those questions are answered, the case remains an allegation rather than a proven case of fraud.


A Warning to Nigerians


The reported incident is also a reminder that large financial transactions involving government agencies should be independently verified through official channels.


Nigeria Customs Service has an established e-auction process, and its official website provides contact and help-desk information for members of the public.


Anyone being offered seized vehicles, containers or other Customs goods should therefore verify the transaction directly through the Service's official platforms rather than relying solely on an individual claiming to have connections inside Customs.


For a businessman dealing with tens of millions of naira, taking additional steps to verify the ownership, location, auction status and payment procedure could prevent a devastating financial loss.


For now, the ₦96 million Customs allegation raised by VeryDarkMan remains under public scrutiny. The response of the Nigeria Customs Service, any evidence produced by the alleged victim, and the outcome of any formal investigation will determine what actually happened.


Important: This report presents allegations attributed to VeryDarkMan and other published accounts. It does not establish that any named or unnamed Customs officer committed fraud. Any person accused of wrongdoing is entitled to respond, and wrongdoing should ultimately be determined through proper investigation and due process.


[Nigeria Customs Service official website](https://customs.gov.ng/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)


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