Maritime
‘Police Illegally Invade ANLCA Secretariat’
The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) says the Police have illegally invaded its secretariat,
ANLCA alleged that expelled members of the Association, led by Taiwo Mustapha, deceived the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) with a court injuction obtained in 2019 to invade the association’s secretariat.
Briefing journalists in Lagos recently, ANLCA Vice President, Dr Kayode Farinto and Secretary General, Mukaila Babatunde, said the court had in 2019 vacated the injunction the Taiwo Mustapha group allegedly used in deceiving the Nigeria Police to seal up the association’s secretariat.
They also disclosed that the plaintiff had expressed readiness for out of court settlement before the invasion of their secretariat on Wednesday, February 16th, 2022.
The group, however, expressed readiness to petition the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, over alleged illegal invasion by some police officers and hoodlums allegedly led by expelled board Chairman, Taiwo Mustapha.
Speaking during the briefing, Farinto stated that the NPF goofed for not carrying out thorough investigation before being used by expelled members to carry out the illegal act on the national secretariat.
On his part, the National Secretary of the Association, Babatunde Mukaila, informed that the attack on the secretariat was carried out without bailiff from the court, hence that the sealing of the secretariat was illegal.
He informed that the attack on the secretariat was carried out while some members of the NECOM where at the National Assembly on the invitation of Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Customs & Excise duty, Rep Leke Abejide, to speak on the CBN’s new policy on e-invoicing.
Mukaila informed that the Police were deceived with a court order obtained in 2019 purportedly trying to unseat the Tony Iju led NECOM.
He, however, said the order was challenged in court after 14 days stating that the case is in court and as such cannot be used as a ground to seal up the secretariat.
He also disclosed that the hoodlums beat up members of staff including corp members at the ANLCA secretariat.
“We were told they came with three policemen from Festac and multitude of hoodlums who came with daggers and all sort.
“They broke the padlocks, destroyed the main gate, went to the main entrance, destroy whatever they can destroy and they deflated all the car tyres, beat up all the people they met, including corp members.
“The result is what everyone now knows: that Taiwo Muatapha led the gang that purportedly took over the secretariat without any warrant.
“I want to state that there was no court bailiff present at that premises because if court is coming to enforce judgement with the police, the bailiff of the court ought to be there.
“After that, they left and position those three policemen and truck load of soldiers there.
“On arrival from Abuja, we move straight to the Area Command in Festac but, unfortunately the Area Commander had closed but we met some officers who were able to give us hint about what happened.
“According to the officer, the court order that was gotten in August 2019 purportedly trying to unseat the Tony Iju NECOM that was challenged after 14 days with the case still in court was the same order Mustapha purportedly presented to the Inspector General as being valid and still in force.
“So the IG ordered the AIG Zone 2, the AIG then ordered the Area Command, the Area Command then ordered the DPO to enforce that order, but today we’ve been with the Area Command and the DPO to prove our case that the order is a spent order, so it is not supposed to be in the interest of Police without inviting the other party .
“The interesting truth about the order is that the plaintiff, Obokun freight forwarder, told their counsel that they aren’t interested in the case anymore rather they want out of court settlement.
“We have the certified true copy of that proceeding of the court where their lawyers pronounced that they want out of court settlement and that the judge is giving us four weeks to seat together”, he explained.
By: Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
The Nigerian Navy Forward Operation Base (FOB), Badagry, says its gallant officers have rescued nine women from the hands of suspected human traffickers.
FOB said the suspects have been handed over to the National Agency for prohibition of Human trafficking in Person (NAPTIP) for prosecution.
This was disclosed to newsmen in a statement by the Base Information Officer, Litunent B. Awodeyi, in Lagos.
Awodeyi said the first interception of the women was during a stop and search operation by the Quick Response Team (QRT) of the Command in a boat traveling to mile 2 and Panshi Jetty in Lagos State were five women between the ages of 19 and 32 were rescued.
The statement further said four women were also rescued by QRT two days later in a boat along Tongeji Island in Badagry, with the ages of victims ranging from 19 to 24 years.
Awodeyi said the rescued suspects were under investigation in line with the 2016 Harmonised Standard Procedures on arrest.
Although the names of the suspects were not made public by FOB, it insisted that the operation reflects Navy’s dedication to combating human trafficking and ensuring a secure maritime environment in line with the Chief of Naval Staff’s strategic directive 2023 and 2026.
The directive, Awodeyi said, is aimed at promoting safety in Nigeria’s waters and the Gulf of Guinea (GOG).
The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), led by its President-General, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, has announced plans to embark on a nationwide strike, if the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) fails to pay nine months of salary arrears owed its employees.
Adeyanju said the affected workers are members of MWUN, and accused CRFFN management of neglecting its financial responsibilities.
MWUN in a statement by its Head of Media, Comrade John Kennedy Ikemefuna, expressed deep dissatisfaction with the actions of the CRFFN’s Acting Registrar.
The statement noted that MWUN had exhausted all available options for negotiation, including issuing several ultimatums, but that the efforts were ignored by the management of CRFFN.
“The most recent attempt at mediation occurred in Abuja on September 18, 2024, yet no progress was made in resolving the matter”, it said.
The statement criticised CRFFN for disregarding a crucial resolution reached during the mediation meetings.
According to Ikemefuna, one of the resolutions stipulated that when funds become available to the CRFFN, the payment of employees’ salaries should be prioritis ed.
The statement further noted that CRFFN diverted available funds to conduct what it described as a “kangaroo” training programme for select staff members, leaving the issue of unpaid salaries unaddressed.
“This is a clear violation of the agreements reached”, it emphasised.
The Union said CRFFN’s actions have deepened the financial challenges faced by its members, hence MWUN expressed disappointment that, despite their willingness to cooperate with the CRFFN management, the regulatory body has continued to act in a manner that undermines the rights and welfare of its members.
The workers union, therefore, insisted that it would no longer tolerate the perceived impunity of the CRFFN and declared that if the outstanding nine months salary arrears are not paid, it would have no choice but to initiate a total withdrawal of its members from services.
“This action would impact key sectors of Nigeria’s maritime industry, including the Nigerian Ports Authority, dock labour, shipping and freight forwarding agencies, as well as seamen working across all ports, jetties, terminals, and oil and gas platforms”, Ikemefuna stated.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Command, has thwarted a smuggling attempt of N1.1billion illicit drugs in four containers at Apapa Port.
The four seized containers were filled with narcotics valued at N1,183,915,500.
The Command’s Area Controller, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, disclosed this to newsmen through its Public Relations Officer, Mr. Abubakar Usman.
The seizure involved 236,783 bottles of cough syrups containing codeine and Barcadin, packed in a total of 2,174 cartons from two terminals under the command’s jurisdiction.
Three other seizures were made at APM Terminals, while one was intercepted at Kachicares Bonded Terminal.
Comptroller Olomu explained that, “On October 11, 2024, during a joint inspection of a 1×40 container, number MRKU0377493, our officers discovered prohibited CSP cough syrup—34,800 bottles packed into 174 cartons, each containing 200 bottles.
“The shipment was expired at the time of interception”.
The statement said on the same day, another 1×40 container, number TGBU8886020, was found with 39,700 bottles of DSP cough syrup, packed in cartons containing 100 bottles each.
Additionally, a third container (TCKU6800526) examined on October 15, 2024, at APMT Terminal, labelled as containing essential goods, revealed 19 cartons of concealed CSJ cough syrup for throat and chest with codeine, packed in 200 bottles per carton.
Another major seizure was recorded on October 15, 2024, at Kachicares Resources Terminal: A 1×40FT container, number SUDU8579006, declared as containing kitchen wares, was found with a concealed stash of Barcadin cough syrup in 1,584 cartons, along with 83 loose bottles.
Comptroller Olomu described the seizures as part of the NCS’ zero-tolerance policy toward smuggling.
Apapa Command, he said, “is committed to efficient trade facilitation while maintaining strict controls on revenue collection and anti-smuggling activities.
”I urge those engaged in illegal trade to avoid Apapa Port. Our vigilant officers, using intelligence, technology, and experience, are poised to detect and intercept any smuggling attempts”.
He insisted that Codeine abuse has been linked to severe side effects, including drowsiness, confusion, and increased susceptibility to criminal behaviors.
“The Nigerian government banned the importation of codeine-containing cough syrups in 2018 after widespread misuse among youth”, he noted.
The Comptroller said further investigations are underway to identify and apprehend the individuals behind the smuggling attempts.