The Association of Nigeria Licenced Customs Agents (ANLCA) has dissolved it's Association Electoral Committee (ASECO) led by Alhaji Babatunde Mukaila and appointed a new chairman in the person of Port Harcourt-based Barrister Raymond Oyinmba
This is even as Shipping Position Daily gathered last week that the crisis that rocked the association during its last election into the Tin Can Island Chapter is far from being over as one of the contestant who lost the election; Mr. Ojo Peter Akintoye has gone to court to contest the results of the election conducted in July 2016.
Usually reliable sources within the association told our correspondent that the ASECO has been dissolved. He however did not say if the action was a fall-out of the Tin Can election.
Recall that the erstwhile Chairman of the ASECO; Alhaji Mukaila had tendered his resignation in the heat of the election due to what he alleged as forces trying to influence him to rig the election at that time. The resignation was however not accepted by the board of the association.
The new ASECO now comprise of Barrister Oyinmba as Chairman, Mr. Bolade Lawrence as Secretary. Other members are: Salami Kasali, Segun Alabi, Dom Obi, Femi Anifowose and one Mr. Nnamocha.
Alhaji Mukaila who took over office from Prince Olayiwola Shittu (current ANLCA President) eight years ago has now been named Chairman Biometrics Committee of ANLCA.
Confirming the post-election litigation, Chairman of the Tin Can chapter of ANLCA; Prince Segun Oduntan told Shipping Position Daily last week at the association's new year party that Mr. Ojo Akintoye has gone to court to contest the election results.
Oduntan told our correspondent that Mr. Akintoye had gone to court despite reconciliation moves that have been made by leaders of the association
He said, "d forget that Ojo Akintoye has gone to court even after he came for reconciliation, but this government is moving, we are not looking back, we would meet in court and I can tell you that this government has come to stay. Maybe, he is trying to contest an election that has been won already, a clear cut victory election".
Speaking on the essence of the new year get together party, Oduntan said: "The new year party is to thank God for a new year that has rolled in even after the economic challenges that dulled the business last year, we thank God and we look forward to a good year with government policies, hopefully it is going to be better"
According to him, the recent closing of the land borders by customs against rice and vehicle imports should have been given a three months extension because a lot of operations are now suffering as a result of many items that are trapped at the borders.
"I will plead with the government to give two months grace, collect the revenue and do whatever they want to do”, he stated.
Speaking on his projections for the year, he said: "I believe with the new import policies we would be able to do well and government would collect it's due revenue".
However, speaking with Shipping Position Daily earlier, Mr. Ojo Akintoye who was also present at the party assured that he was not against the present administration at Tin Can chapter, even as he maintained that ANLCA remains one big family that will remain united.
"Despite the fact that there are differences, but differences can be addressed and it would be addressed, I am not against the present administration and I have never been against them" he said.
Discussion about this post