Financial Fraud in ANLCA: I Didn’t Write Petition Against Mukaila, Says Fakanlu

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Olumide Fakanu, ANLCA National Secretary

…Says Mukaila Roped Himself in an Ongoing NECOM Investigation of MMIA Chapter Funds Misappropriation

By DAPO OLAWUNI

The National Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) Olumide Fakanlu has denied being the mastermind behind the current travails of his successor, Otunba Abdulazeez Babatunde Mukaila, saying that Mukaila is being investigated by the Police in connection with a petition which the National Executive Committee (NECOM) wrote against the Chairman of MMIA chapter, Bamgbala Adewusi over misappropriation of association funds.

In a chat with DAILY TREND on Saturday, Fakanlu berated Mukaila for being economical with the truth by going to the press to accuse him of personally sponsoring the fraud petition against him.

Fakanlu clarified the situation, stating that the original petition was filed by NECOM against Adewusi, not Mukaila.

Alhaji Abdulazees Babatunde Mukaila

According to him, the current administration of Emenike Nwokeoji is not vindictive or pursuing any investigation into the administration of Tony Iju Nwabunike, rather, the new NECOM has decided to let bygones be bygone.

“We are not looking into any of the misdeeds of the former administration because we have allowed bygone to be bygone. If we have to start opening the books, then we won’t be moving forward” he explained.

He however said the association is looking into misappropriation of association funds by its MMIA Chapter whose chairman has been suspended. Fakanlu said the members of the chapter came forward to lay complaints against the chairman and the association had to take action to ensure their welfare.

“The NECOM wrote a petition against Adewusi for misappropriation of funds. Somehow, the investigation reached Mukaila. During a meeting, Mukaila admitted that he collected money from Adewusi, claiming it wasn’t fraudulent but was used for the association when the former president wasn’t around. He said the money was for maintaining the secretariat, which I dispute.”

The crux of the matter, according to Fakanlu, is the use of funds Mukaila received from Adewusi. While Mukaila claims the funds were used for the upkeep of the secretariat, Fakanlu countered this, pointing to the fact that Mukaila had in his custody, signed cheques from the former president.

“He had a signed cheque from the former president, and according to our records, he signed cheques up until October last year. I don’t understand why my name is now being involved in this matter,” Fakanlu added.

When asked if he personally wrote the petition that implicated Mukaila, Fakanlu denied it, stating that his involvement was solely on behalf of NECOM. “I had to write a statement representing NECOM, but I never mentioned Mukaila because I wasn’t aware he was involved. It was during the police investigation that Mukaila was linked to the funds Adewusi allegedly misappropriated,” he explained.

In an online publication making the rounds on social media, the embattled Mukaila had alleged that Fakanlu was part of the reason for his involvement in the police investigation, claiming that Fakanlu, alongside the association’s legal adviser, was behind the petition that triggered his invitation to the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) in Lagos.

Mukaila, in his defense, recounted how he received the police invitation. “I got an invitation letter through the ANLCA National Secretariat on August 7th, 2024. It was from the Police Fraud Unit investigating a case in which my name featured prominently,” Mukaila stated.

Mukaila in his defense insisted that the money in question was used for the administration of ANLCA during a time of crisis. “I was told that the petition was for ANLCA Murtala Mohammed Airport Chapter, and I, as the National Secretary under Tony Iju’s administration, became a person of interest. The Police asked for vouchers for the period, but I pointed out that I was no longer in office and advised them to write to the ANLCA National Secretariat for the vouchers.”

Despite Mukaila’s assertions, Fakanlu maintained that there is no personal rift between them. “There’s no rift. He may have his suspicions, but I don’t have any personal issues with him. My focus is on the association’s matters, not personal conflicts,” Fakanlu clarified.

Fakanlu also dismissed rumors that he opposed Mukaila’s bid for a seat on the Board of Trustees (BOT). “What is my business with his BOT bid? He didn’t tell me he was going for it. I never asked him about it, and frankly, it’s not my concern. I’m focused on my role as the national secretary,” he said.

As the investigation into the fraud allegations deepens, DAILY TREND reports that the big question remains whether ANLCA will pursue alternative dispute resolution with Adewusi and Mukaila or proceed to court.

Fakanlu revealed that the police have encouraged resolving the matter internally. “The police are encouraging us to resolve the matter through alternative dispute resolution, but NECOM’s position is to take the case to court,” Fakanlu stated.

The decision, he noted, rests with NECOM and the concerned parties. “As the national secretary, I haven’t seen anything on my desk regarding the alternative dispute resolution, and we haven’t come together to discuss it yet,” he added.

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