Breaking: ANLCA BOT Unperturbed As Police Finally Re-opens National Secretariat

By DAPO OLAWUNI

Despite it’s unresolved internal crisis, the Nigerian Police has reportedly reopened the National Secretariat of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) on 30th of December to the Hon Tony Iju Nwabunike’s National Executive Committee (NECOM)

This is even as the Registered Board of Trustees (BOT) of the association under the leadership of Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha has said that it is not disturbed by the development.

The Police had shutdown the National Secretariat sometimes in October 2022 in order to breakdown of law and other following the matchetting of a member at Tin Can Island Port, Lagos.

The registered BOT has however maintained that it makes no sense to reopen the Secretariat to the Iju’s NECOM because their tenure in office has since expired in April 2022.

Recall that ANLCA has been in a protracted leadership crisis for four years with NECOM and the BOT fighting for control of the association.

Also, there has been myriads of court cases and suits, with a recent one being struck out by Justice D.E.Osiagor on 5th December, 2022 at Federal High Court, Ikoyi

Secretary of the board, Prince Taiye Oyeniyi confirmed the development exclusively to DAILY TREND on Friday, saying that the BOT taking steps to address the matter.

“The judgement that was struck out by the court (Justice Osiagor) recently is what they took to the police, but that is not a problem, we have done the needful about it, we are addressing the matter

“An association cannot continue to exist without any board, all what they are doing now is wasting of time. These people are begging and yet they are doing things that are contrary.
To me, I don’t count that as a opening.

“The question that should be asked is, who would conduct the election now that the NECOM tenure has expired? Who would supervise whatever they want to do? The board is saddled with electioneering function” he said

Also speaking, the Acting National Secretary that was recently appointed in acting capacity by the Taiwo Mustapha led BOT, Mr Joe Sanni said that the Police failed to do due diligence before reopening the Secretariat.

“I am sure the directive is from the IG or the CP has been compromised.

“They must have sold an argument to the CP that we have agreed and that was why the case was struck out, but the CP failed to do due diligence to find out if truly we are in agreement, this is where we suspect compromise

“They do not have a board and their tenure has expired, they have no legitimacy to be inside the Secretariat, this is another recipe for crisis” he said