Despite Court Order, Police Move to Arrest Tope Akindele, 15 Others at ANLCA Airport Chapter
Policemen on Wednesday stormed the Murtala Muhammed Airport Chapter secretariat of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) to arrest its Chairman, Mr Tope Akindele and 15 others. Members of the chapter resisted the move and held their grounds.
The Chairman of the association’s Board of Trustees (BOT), Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha, told DAILY TREND that the officers came from the F/SWAT unit, Adeniji Adele, Lagos. He alleged the officers were sent by Mr Bola Ashiru who is also laying claim to the Chairmanship of the chapter.
Mustapha accused the officers of violating a court order and a directive from the Inspector General of Police (IGP) that the police should keep off ANLCA matters.
He said the BOT had obtained an order directing that matters concerning the ANLCA Airport chapter should not be touched by the police, and that it was sent to the IGP, who in turn notified police commissioners in Lagos.
The order, in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/1067/26, was made by Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court, Lagos, on July 24, 2026. The suit was filed by the Registered Trustees of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents against the Inspector General of Police.
The order followed an ex parte motion dated July 8, 2026, moved by the plaintiff’s counsel, A. Awodiji, and supported by an affidavit sworn to by Mustapha.
The court restrained the IGP and any police commands under his control, including the Airport Command, from interfering in the rights and authority of the BOT “to enter into, take possession and assume full custody of its chapters nationwide,” including the Murtala Muhammed Cargo Airport Chapter office at ANLCA House, Murtala Mohammed International Airport Road, Ikeja, Lagos.
The restraint stays in force pending the hearing and final determination of the originating summons. The case was adjourned to November 18, 2026, with a hearing notice to issue to the defendant.
The latest incident comes amid a long-running leadership dispute in the chapter. DAILY TREND reported that the BOT has appealed an October 8, 2026 Federal High Court judgment by Justice A. Lewis-Allagoa, which declared Chief Bola Asiru Balogun chairman of the chapter.
The BOT, through its lawyer, Adekunle Awodiji, filed the notice of appeal and a motion for a stay of execution on October 9.
The BOT argues that the trial judge failed to give effect to a June 22, 2023 judgment of Justice Emmanuel O. Ogundare of the Lagos State High Court, which declared Temitope Pius Akindele chairman on the strength of his election victory.
It also claims Balogun was not qualified to contest the January 15, 2022 chapter election because he was not then a member of the association. According to the BOT, the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) had struck his company off the register and his licence as a customs agent had been suspended.
Justice Lewis-Allagoa’s judgment, in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/2251/2025, went in Balogun’s favour on every issue. The court held that Balogun had standing because another Federal High Court judge, Justice E.U. Akpan, had ordered his company, Sofotopy Nigeria Limited, reinstated on November 3, 2025, and the CAC confirmed it as active in a letter dated December 17, 2025.
The judge also held that the ANLCA Supreme Constitution provides for one chairman per chapter, not two.
On Tuesday, October 13, the association urged members of the chapter to remain calm and said the National Executive Committee (NECOM) and the BOT had instructed Akindele, as chairman, to take over the chapter’s secretariat, assets and properties. The leadership maintains that Akindele, also known as Ijoba, remains the substantive chairman.
