ANLCA Crisis: Fear Grips Taiwo Afolabi Led BOT Faction, As High Court Strikes Out Alleged Fake Affidavit

A Badagry High Court Judge, Justice E. O. Ogundare has struck out a fake affidavit allegedly submitted in court by the Dr Taiwo Afolabi led Board of Trustees (BOT) of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA).

Justice Ogundare at the resumed hearing of the suit No. BD/3134GCM/2019 on 28th of June 2021, reportedly frowned at the frivolous applications brought yet again to court by the ANLCA factional BOT, with the intent to scuttle or delay ruling on the issue of who represents the BOT of ANLCA.

Recall that ANLCA has been fictionalised with two Board of Trustees laying claim to the association. One of the faction is led by Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha while the ANLCA national executives also recently inaugurated Dr Taiwo Afolabi, Chairman of SIFAX Group as its factional Chairman.

Our correspondent however learnt that Dr Afolabi has never attended any public meeting of ANLCA, neither has he public make a statement about the ANLCA BOT position, a development that generated controversies that his name was being touted by the Tony Iju administration in order to gain undue advantage.

According to a press statement issued at the end of the court hearing by the Media Adviser to the registered trustee of ANCLA, Mr Joe Sanni, when the matter was initially called , before it was stood down for a recall, representations in the case were called.

“While the authentic BOT were fully represented as it has always been at every sitting, “their own BOT” members present at the court – Ozo Chukwura and Eniola Igbaroola, were not bold enough to stand in appearance for “their own BOT”, while a different lawyer yet again, appeared for them”

“Obviously infuriated Justice Ogundare saw through their evil plans, drew their attention to the fact that all supporting documents in the case before him, have been properly studied, and that’s why he was ready to deliver his Ruling today on the actual representation of the BOT of ANLCA”

“Unfortunately, the frivolous applications filed at the last minutes, which are repetitions of the past ones, were meant to slow down processes in his court”

“Justice Ogundare said he was no longer going to allow that and summarily struck out all the applications filed, for lack of merit.
Therefore, he postponed his ruling till the 3rd of August 2021”

“After all the rigmarole, “their BOT” is not registered or recognized by the Corporate Affairs Commission, and therefore, in the eyes of the law, “their BOT” – also known as Tony Iju’s BOT – is non-existent”

“Mukaila, who was also in court today did not stand up to represent their BOT, as he has done severally in courts handling ANLCA matters.

“He knows, like every person does, that his and other court orders violators will soon have their day in court, to answer to contempt charges, especially in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/921/2020 which has amassed tons of incontrovertible evidences to railroad them all to jail”

“If the slant, sight and sounds of the Badagry case today is anything to go by, then, ANLCA is certain to bounce back unencumbered, to take its rightful place in the comity of Customs Brokerage associations the world over” Sanni stated

Recall that ANLCA at a recent National Executive (NEC) Meeting at Marriot Hotel Ikeja announced that it has suspended Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha, his company and seven others over what it described as anti-association activities.