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Freight Monitor

ANLCA dismisses Kano Court Injunction as time-barred —says association was not served—  plaintiffs not our members—Farinto

Exclusive by Eyewitness reporter
The intractable crisis rocking the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents(ANLCA),has taken a plung for the worse as the association has dismissed the Kano court injunction which purportedly sacked the newly elected BOT
headed by Dr Taiwo Afolabi as time-barred.
It was gathered that Taiwo Mustapha -led BOT, which has since been declared illegal and illegitimate by the National Executive Council(NECOM) of ANLCA, had approached the Federal High Court in Kano Judicial Division which issued an order of interim injunction, restraining  Tony Nwabunike, the ANLCA President, key members of his National Executive Committee (NECOM) as well as Chairman of SIFAX Group, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi and other members who emerged winners in the Board of Trustees (BOT) election conducted in Owerri 2020.

The court also restrained Afolabi-Taiwo- led BOT from acting,signing or writing letters and parading themselves as Trustees of ANLCA.

But in a swift reaction, Kayode Farinto, the Vice-Chairman of ANLCA, disclosed that the purported court injunction was time-barred as it was issued on March 25th, 2021 and its validity expired within the seven days it was issued.

Farinto, who is also the Chairman of the National Discplinary Committee of the Association, claimed that none of the persons named as defendants in the suit was either served as a person or through the National Secretariat of the Associstion in Lagos or its Kano office.

“Firstly, there was no injunction because up till now, we have not been served, either at the National Secretariat or in Kano.

“Secondly, the man (Chief Taiwo Mustapha) who got the purported injunction is not known to ANLCA. He is not a member.

”Thirdly, the injunction was said to have been issued on March 25th, 2021. So it is time- barred after seven days.

”The injunction has expired. It has nothing to do with us.

“The BOT led by Dr Taiwo Afolabi is intact”, declared Farinto.

He further disclosed that Taiwo Mustapha and all his cohorts who are formenting trouble in ANLCA have all been suspended for anti- association activities by the National Descplinary Committee which he heads.

“There is a new development today(Wednesday). All these people have been suspended from ANLCA and they are not our members again” Farinto revealed.

He disclosed that the association has accordingly transmitted the resolution to the affected persons

Farinto said the decision to sack Taiwo and his men would not further plunge ANLCA into deeper crisis as people may think, saying the decision  was taken in the best interest of the association and in order to keep the sanctity of the ANLCA constitution which he claimed the sacked members have desecrated though their actions and deeds.

”The constitution of ANLCA is supreme and sacrosant. If you must be a member of ANLCA, section 2 says the constitution is supreme.

”Another section of the constitution also says that when your acts, utterances and behaviour are seen to be anti-association, you can be punished.

”You can be asked to face disciplinary action which they have done.

”You will agree with me that all their unterrances and actions in the last few months showed that they are not good association members”

He said the suspended members can go to court to challenge their suspension if they so desired.

”They can go to court if they so wish. The court will even ask them if they have exhausted the internal dispute resolution mechanism. Section 26 of the ANLCA constitution” talks about arbitrarion.

”We would not continue to tolerate illegality. You can’t just be going to court without going through the internal conflict resolution mechanism of the association which says that you must submit yourself to the arbitration panel” Farinto thundered.

The National Disciplinary Committee of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) under the leadership of Kayode Farinto, the National Vice President of ANLCA on Wednesday announced the suspension of Chief Taiye Oyeniye, former Secretary of the defunct BoT; Chief Taiwo Mustapha, a former board Chairman; Chief Dennis Okafor, Coordinator of ANLCA Western Zone, Chief Offorbike and Comrade Joe Sanni, National Publicity Secretary of ANLCA and Tope Akindele of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos chapter for anti- association activities.

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Customs

Opposition mounts against proposed hike in licensing renewal fee by Customs as agents kick

–the timing is wrong  — Amiwero

–the rich will now hijack the clearing job– Musa

— the multinationals will have a field day — Mukaila

– lot of agents will be out of job-Otunba Komolafe 
– the economy will collapse — Barrister Ada Akpunonu 
Funso OLOJO 
There seems to an overwhelming unanimity in the resistance of the Customs Licensed Clearing Agents against the proposed hike in the licensing renewal fee by the Nigeria Customs Service.
On Thursday, August 7th, 2025, the management of the NCS muted the idea of a hike in licensing renewal fee when it was sensitizing the executives of the major freight forwarding groups in Abuja.
The agency told the freight forwarders that commencing from January 1st, 2026, the current renewal fee of N215, 000( 20k for the Headquarters and N15k processing fee for the commands) would be increased as the existing fee was no longer realistic in the face of the economic realities in the country.
However, a cross – section of the practicing customs brokers who spoke to our reporter on the proposed review were unsparing in their total rejection and condemnation of the proposal.
They were unanimous in their belief that the move by the customs authority was not only ill- timed, ill- conceived but it’s capable of sending many practitioners out of the business.
The customs brokers lamented the timing of the proposed hike when, according to them, they are still grappling with the challenges of multiple payment of charges and fees atvtge port.
They pointed out the reintroduction of the 4 percent fee on FOB on imported cargo, the high exchange rate and other taxes which they said are hurting the business.
They further claimed that the proposed hike will give a leeway to the money bags and the foreign multi- nationals to hijack the freight forwarding industry.
Dr Segun Musa, the Deputy National President of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) accused Customs of gradually turning the issue of licensing into cash and carry for the highest bidders.
He believed that obtaining customs license should be purely knowledge- based and not what should be procured with money.
“To me, I don’t think it’s a welcome development and I’m not subscribing to that” when asked of his reaction to the proposed hike.
“The industry should be more of knowledge-driven and not cash-driven.
I didn’t subscribe to it and definitely I won’t buy into it.
” The reality is not whether the current renewal fee is sustainable or
not sustainable. Ordinarily, we don’t suppose as practitioners, we’re not supposed to pay for license.
“We’re supposed to be registered and licensed based on knowledge.
“It should not be a commercialized thing. A customs licensing is not a commercialized venture, it is not a private venture for profit making.
“They generate revenue for government. But ordinarily, we’re supposed to be registered and licensed based on knowledge to facilitate trade.
” If we allow the financial bullion operators to hijack the industry, then they mess up the whole industry.
“It should be knowledge-driven. It should not be the highest bidder industry.
” It should be integrity platform. It should be knowledge platform, not money
back platform.
“You cannot push people that are trying to establish and advance their business out of the business. You don’t do that.
It’s not fair.
“I’m just waiting for the associations that have met with the CG to come out with there  own resolutions or their own brief before we can start engaging media and telling the media our own personal opinion.
” But definitely, it will not fly.
Alhaji Abdulaziz Mukaila, the former National Secretary Generals of the Association of Nigerian Customs Licensed Agents(ANLCA, was not less critical of the licensing renewal proposal.
” Where do they want us to get the money from? Do they want us to start to tax importers? the ANLCA Chieftain asked rhetorically.
“Are they giving us any subvention?
 Whereas, Customs is taking salary.
They are still taking budget allowance.
” Now they are taking 4 percent cent on FOB on cargo.
” The Customs is giving way to the fraudsters they claimed they wanted to weed out with this hike because the fraudsters will get the license at any amount because they know what they want to do with the license.
*Customs will only succeed in chasing out honest people out of the business, thus paving way to the dubious ones to take over.
“What are  they trying to
achieve?
” To shut the door and bring in foreign multinationals?
“Afterall, the customs now give licenses to the Chinese, Indians and Lebanese.
“With this new hike, these foreigners will now gain full control of the industry” the former ANLCA scribe alleged.
Mr Lucky Eyis Amiwero, the factional President of National Council of Managing Directors of Customs Licensed Agents (NCMDLCA) believed that the proposed hike in licensing fee was ill- time at a time the Customs has just introduced 4 percent Free-on-Board (FOB) on imported cargo.
“I don’t think it is the right time for
them to renew, to increase license fees.
“It is the wrong time because the country is actually faced with a lot of challenges.
“The challenges are, one,exchange rates. A lot of people have lost their job. Even people cannot renew most of their licenses.
“When you look at the license renewal, it is based on the performance.
Many people might renew and after the whole thing,they don’t have any jobs to
do.
“So,I don’t think it is the right time for them because  as the customs was  renewing, is trying to bring
in 4% of FOB and so many charges.
“And this is going to hit the agents, hit the importers, hit the
manufacturers,hit the economy.
“When you increase, many of them cannot even move out from their homes.
The port is not a friendly place. A lot of things that are happening  at the port are not coordinated.
“More than 70% of people have left the port industry.
“So,customs should have reasons and seek opinion of people before they  start to increase.
“That money they are increasing is for their own .
“When the last time they reviewed the whole thing, I was in the forefront.
“The last time it was reviewed from N10,000 to N200,000” Amiwero declared.
Both Barrister Ada Akpunonu and Otunba Olasupo Komolafe of the ANLCA shared  similar sentiments on the issue.
Akpunonu seemed to be carefree about the issue because, according to her, the challenges which agents are facing at the port are overwhelming and frustrating.
She lamented that while the agents were battling with the charges of terminal operators, Customs came with the payment of 4 percent Free-on-Board (FOB) levy and now the hike in licensing fee renewal.
” I don’t want to talk about this issue.
If they like, let them increase, when the economy collapses , we shall all be affected”
” Let the Customs increase, those who have money will renew and those who don’t have will be thrown out of job and the rate of unemployment will increase” Akpunonu said in a tired tone.
Otunba Komolafe described the proposed hike as an additional burden on agents who are already groaning in pains over multiple charges at the port.
” Where do they want us to get money? Do they think we pick money on the ground? ,the ANLCA Chieftain asked rhetorically.
He said some agents may not be able to even utilize their license for a whole years due to lack of job.
He claimed that the hike will throw many out of the job.
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Freight Monitor

Amiwero mocks ANLCA, three other freight forwarding groups over plan not to pay POF.

— describes them as gathering of strange bedfellows 
Funso OLOJO 
The last is yet to be been heard of the intrigues, acrimony and bellyaching that greeted the court judgement which invalidated the payment of the controversial Practitioners Operating Fees (POF)by freight forwarders.
It could be recalled that the factional President of National Council of Managing Directors of Licenced Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), Lucky Eyis Amiwero, secured a court victory against the payment of the POF by Customs brokers when on May 26th, 2025, Justice D.E Osiagor of the Federal High Court in Lagos delivered a landmark judgment in a suit No Suit No. FHC/CS/765/2018 between NCMDLCA vs. 1. MINISTER OF TRANSPORT, 2. NPA and 3. CRFFN in which he declared the collection of the controversial POF illegal.
However, on Friday, June 18th, 2025, the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents(ANLCA) led four out of the five freight forwarding groups registered with the Council for the Regulation of freight forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) to announce their resolve to enforce the judgment of the Lagos High Court by stopping the payment of POF.
The other associations which allegedly connived with ANLCA to rebel against the  CRFFN included the National Association of Air Freight Forwarders and Consolidators (NAFFAC), Association of Registered Freight Forwarders of Nigeria (AREFFN) and a factional National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA).
But Amiwero, who achieved the hard- won court victory over CRFFN, mocked the gathering of the four other associations, describing them as “strange bedfellows”.
”Just look at the gathering of these strange bedfellows, ganging up together to reap where they did not sow.
“A case of ‘my enemy, who is the enemy of my enemy, is now my friend.’
“When they slept on their rights and were busy fighting over the sharing formula of the POF, they never saw CRFFN action as illegal.
“Where were they when Lucky Amiwero single-handedly pursued the case and secured the judgment?
“Some of them even bashed Amiwero for challenging CRFFN, but now, have gathered to enjoy relief from another man’s struggle.
” Pushed by the frustration of not getting any share as CRFFN said that a Consultant fraudulently swallowed everything, they’ve now latched onto Amiwero’s court judgment, in revenge of those that outsmarted them in the Council’s politics and booties sharing” Amiwero declared in a derisive note.
The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), which boycotted the meeting of the “strange bedfellows”, also dismissed the group as ” selfish and untrustworthy”
“The above ugly remarks by Mr. Lucky Eyis Amiwero concerning these individuals clearly portray them as untrustworthy and confused persons.
” They can best be described as a bunch of dribblers and directionless folks.
” We have waited to hear their reaction to these highly uncomplimentary remarks but discovered they lacked the wisdom to decode the weighty nature and the implications of Mr. Lucky’s comments, which completely smeared and eroded their credibility and made them interlopers in the industry” NAGAFF High Command declared.
NAGAFF, which reacted through its Board of Trustees (BOT)to the plan of the other registered freight forwarders over their plan to stop payment of the POF, has called in the CRFFN to deregister these rebellious groups while the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, should use legal instrument to ensure that the Corporate Affairs Commission(CAC) withdraw their Certificate of Registration.
NAGAFF claimed these  punitive measures became necessary because the group has committed economic sabotage against the Federal government by denying the government it’s revenue through their refusal to pay the POF.
“The Hon. Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, H.E Adegboyega Oyetola, is being encouraged to deregister forthwith the four ailing associations and move on to recommend to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to withdraw their certificates of registration based on threats to revenue due to government of the federation”, stated NAGAFF.
The association however believed that government should allow Amiwero and his group to exit the CRFFN platform in order to give peace a chance so that the CRFFN could collect the POF unhindered.
“The authorities should allow the factional President of NCMDLCA, Mr. Lucky Eyis Amiwero’s group and their accomplices to go as they wish and allow the CRFFN to face its mandate as provided by law.
“We are convinced that the CRFFN will stabilize and be more focused if these elements are granted their request to exit.
“We suspect that this group is being sponsored by the enemies of the state who are hell-bent on sabotaging the good efforts of the government.
“One of the worst crimes anyone can commit against the state is to deny the government its statutory revenue
” The antecedents of these groups in question had already portrayed them as non-progressive minds whose activities in the ports need to be watched” NAGAFF stated.
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Entertainment

Ozo Chukwurah hosts Olojede, new Oriade Council Chairman, to lavish reception over his electorial victory 

Funso OLOJO 
Prince Ozo Chukwurah, a frontline Customs broker and former Vice – Chairman of Board of Trustees(BOT) of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), organized a lavish reception for the newly elected Chairman of Oriade Local Council Development Area(LCDA), Honourable Azeez Olojede,to celebrate his recent local government electoral victory.
Olojede, a protege of Prince Chukwurah, came to pay homage to his mentor and financier at his palatial Hotel, Systems Place Hotels, Satellite town Lagos.
Guests at the event, which included the political entourage of the new chairman, his personal assistants, some council officials, party faithfuls and staff of the Systems Place Hotels, were treated to choice light refreshments and drinks.
Olojede said he decided to embark on the thank you visit to Prince Chukwurah for his support and huge contributions to the Satellite community.
He declared that , Prince Chukwurah, a contemporary of his father, has been a pillar of inspiration within the community where he had imparted lives of the people through his philanthropic gestures and other corporate social projects.
The new chairman used the occasion to unveil some of his plans for the LCDA
“I am a very familiar person with my environment having lived 40 out of my 48 years on earth within this Local Council  Development Area” Honorable Olojede began.
 “This area is housing both the riverine and upland areas and mainly divided into Satellite town and Ijegun Egba which are the heartlands of the LCDA.
“I have the desire to make life better for the indigenes and residence of the LCDA”.
“We are having meetings with the traditional rulers in order to outline the projects that we plan to execute and of course we have to bring in government interests to meet with the public interests-schools, police posts, health centre and others that will impact positively on the lives of residents of this area”.
He pledged to ensure that those who engage in agriculture within the islands in the LCDA are encouraged to help boost food security in inline with the desire of the state government.
 “We have to project the objectives of the state government so that the people will be able to key into the various projects to improve their lives and the environment”. the chairman added.
Olojede also encouraged other residents of the area to emulate the generous gesture of chief Ozo Chukwura who funded  the construction work on the road where they had the activity on the day.
“We want to connect the various communities on the two islands to the mainlands and all the listed government interests shall be provided towards achieving all our plans. We are speaking with the people”. he enthused.
Honourable Olojede added that aside the construction works going on, there are plans for training programmes and other educational policies aimed at enlightening the populace.
In his short remark, Prince Chukwurah pledged to fuel the heavy duty equipment that would be used for road construction in the area with the sum of 2 million naira.
The pledge drew a roar of  approval from the appreciative supporters of the chairman who burst into party songs and praises of the donor.
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