Oluyinka Onigbinde
The National President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA); Mr Tony Nwabunike has rejected an award presented to him by the management of Shipping World Magazine as “Freight Forwarder of the Decade”. The award was presented a few years ago.
Nwabunike in a public statement sent to our correspondent stated that the decision to return the award was taken following advise from his colleagues, friends and family members who are convinced about “the very unstable and indecent character of the promoter of the so called award; Mr Asu Beks.
In the statement, Mr Nwabunike alleged that the award is a trap deliberately designed by the promoter, who is also the Publisher of Shipping World Magazine to constantly blackmail him for financial gratification as has been done to other notable personalities in the maritime industry.
He stated that: “Whereas I am presently out of the country for a self-development exercise, I have directed my aides in Lagos to effect immediate return of the plaque and certificate as I have come to the conclusion that they are not worth more than the wood from which they were made.
The award is a trap deliberately designed by the publisher of Shipping World Magazine, Mr Asu Beks to constantly blackmail me for financial gratification as has done to other notable personalities in the maritime industry”
“I frown at the campaign of calumny embarked upon against me and my great association, ANLCA by Asu Beks who always use my photographs as a deliberate attempt to malign my personality with false and defamatory statements”.
According to him, he never solicited for the award. “I can emphatically say that I didn’t solicit for any award from Mr Asu Beks abinitio, even as I expressed skepticism at first when he nominated me”.
Mr Nwabun9ke added that: “Asu Beks has proven without doubt to be a bad example of who or what a journalist should be. He has convinced right thinking persons by his conduct that he is a mercenary writer who is driven by his insatiable hunger for handouts from paymasters.
I doubt his training, exposure and experience as a journalist. I dare say , he displays lack of formal tutelage required for journalism practice. I have cause to challenge his academic background too. Surely, he is poorly educated and unwilling to learn”.
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Speaking on the tenure of the current NECOM, Nwabunike explained that he did not amend the constitution of the association, he said thee amendment of ANLCA’s Constitution, which took place in December 2020, followed due process with approval from NEC and NECOM as the highest decision making organs of ANLCA, even as he said members of the association consented to it.
“It is pertinent to note and put the records straight that, I Tony Nwabunike didn’t amend ANLCA’s Constitution. The amendment of ANLCA’s Constitution, which took place in December 2020, followed due process with approval from NEC and NECOM as the highest decision making organs of ANLCA, even as members of the association consented to it”.
“The process of amendment was not hidden, as maritime journalists observed the entire procedure”, he added.
“So, the campaign of calumny by Asu Beks on tenure elongation against me is nothing but cheap blackmail and lies that will not see the light of day, because truth shall always prevail against falsehood and mischief”, he said.
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