Factional National Publicity Secretary of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA , Chief Francis Ituah, has prevailed on his colleagues to be calm and not return fire to fire even as the association’s crisis boils over.
A letter to this effect reads as follows:
Dear professional youcolleagues, there is a propaganda message circulating in the social media purportedly written by the former National Secretary Alh. A. Mukaila proclaiming his professional colleagues and seniors in the profession unprintable names, however, we as a cultured professional body cannot stoop too low to bath in same murky water with a pig, hence it stains us.
The fact of the matter is that, the Nigeria police invited us yesterday for a meeting which we sent our representatives, however, the meeting was postpone to this morning today 26th August 2022 due to the short notice of the invitation.
In view of the above, The Nigeria Police are the authority that seal the secretariat early this morning to forestall the breakdown of law and order in view of the tension within the secretariat.
However, be rest assured that no NECOM under Alhaji Mukaila secretaryship have the authority or order to lock the national secretariat, it is a mere propaganda of the highest order, we therefore enjoin all members to disregards any messages or directive purportedly emanating from the said NECOM forthwith.
Furthermore, The National secretariat is our common heritage and not an individual property of anyone, The BOT advise all law abiding members to converge at the national secretariat to await further directives, while the matter is being sorted out with the police.
“PLEASE BE LAW ABIDING TO MATTER THE PROVOCATION”, he concluded.
For the third time this year, the Nigerian Police has sealed off the National Secretariat of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), located at Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos State.
The recent sealing of the foremost Customs Brokers association house was carried out on Thursday night over the illegal takeover of the Dikko Inde House by some expelled members and former Board Members of the Association, led by Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha.
The Mustapha faction of ANLCA as commonly known has on Wednesday with hired hoodlums break into the ANLCA National Secretariat with the aid of the Nigerian Police, from Festac Division, to carry out an illegal appointment of Acting National President, National Secretary and others, even as the tenure of the present Executives has not expired. More so as such appointments has no provision in the ANLCA Supreme constitution.
In a short notice and assurance to his members after the police sealing last night, the National Secretary of ANLCA, Alhaji Babatunde Mukaila said “ Dear Professional Colleagues, ANLCA is a professional organisation that cannot be cowed by hooligans and uncultured individuals. ANLCA Secretariat now sealed by NECOM for further processes and engagement of the CP Lagos State that gave this cantankerous approval to expired Board Members of Mustapha Taiwo ,to held meeting at ANLCA National headquarters. Issue of unlawful breakages and forceful entries is been handle by the Law. We enjoined ANLCA members to be law abiding and peaceful, while the Law take its course”.
Meanwhile, the ANLCA Eastern zone has condemned and disassociated itself from what it called “wanton act of thuggery” carried out by former Board Members and hoodlums at the association’s National Secretariat in Lagos state.
In a communiqué issued on 25th August 2022 and signed by 11 chieftains of the association from the Eastern zone comprising of the Zonal Executives and Chapter Chairmen, the Eastern zone comprising of the association’s Seven chapters namely, Onne, Port Harcourt Seaport, Port Harcourt Airport, Onne Oil & Gas, Calabar Port, Delta Port and Enugu Airport Chapters said they are solidly behind the Hon. Iju Tony Nwabunike’s National Executive Committee and Acting National President Kayode Farinto tenure.
The Communiqué reads “The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) Eastern Zone condemns unequivocally the wanton act of thuggery at the ANLCA National Secretariat on Wednesday 24 August 2022.
“ The Eastern Zone is solidly behind the Tony Iju Nwabunike’s led National Executive Committee and the Acting President, Dr Farinto Collins Kayode.
“We disassociate ourselves from any act that prejudices the decisions of the National Executive Council and the ANLCA SUPREME CONSTITUTION as amended on 16 December 2020.
“ That any action, appointment and directives by the erstwhile Board of Trustees whose tenure elapsed by duration in February 2020 is null and void.
“ That any such action or inactions that is in aberration of elections, appointments and committees as stipulated in the ANLCA Constitution is illegal within the tenets of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents.
“We made this release to guide the public on the misinformation trending in the social media.” The notice said.
Picture: ANLCA headquarters under lock and key
