A recent investigation by SaharaReporters has uncovered allegations that Adewale Bashir Adeniyi, the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, manipulated his date of birth in official documents to extend his tenure beyond the mandatory retirement age.
Documents obtained by SaharaReporters reveal that Adeniyi used two different birth dates during his career to favorably manipulate his service duration. Initially, he listed January 19, 1964, as his date of birth in his curriculum vitae when he was employed by the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) in 1981 and again when applying for a position with the Nigeria Customs Service in 1990. Based on this date, Adeniyi turned 60 on January 19, 2024, the age at which he should have retired according to public service rules.
However, in a recent curriculum vitae, Adeniyi claims he was born on January 13, 1966, effectively allowing him to remain in service. A source told SaharaReporters, "He is still in service because he falsified his date of birth by changing it from January 19, 1964, to January 13, 1966. By his real age, he should have retired from federal service in January, but he used his position and connections to alter his records to attain this position."
The investigation also revealed that Adeniyi altered his years of service. He graduated from secondary school in 1979, joined the NRC in 1981, and later transitioned to the Nigeria Customs Service in 1990. His employment documentation for customs included the statement: "Nigerian Railway Corporation November 1981 to Date," suggesting continuous service since 1981.
Adeniyi's educational and professional background includes a BSc in International Relations from the University of Ife (1983-1987) and a certificate in Public Relations from the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (1989). He also claimed proficiency in French, learned at Alliance Francaise in Ibadan.
Falsification of age is a serious criminal offense in Nigeria, with the Criminal Code's Section 463 prescribing a three-year imprisonment for forgery. The Penal Code's Sections 362 to 364 address forgery offenses, with penalties up to 14 years in prison.
When contacted for his response, Adeniyi referred SaharaReporters to Customs spokesperson Abdullahi Maiwada, who did not respond to multiple calls, texts, or WhatsApp messages. A follow-up message to Adeniyi informing him of Maiwada's non-response also went unanswered.
The revelations have sparked controversy and raised questions about integrity within the upper echelons of Nigeria's public service, calling for further investigation and possible legal action.
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