The last may not have been heard of the leadership tussle threatening the unity of clearing agents under the auspices of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA).
In a latest development, the registered trustees of ANALCA have requested that the embattled leadership of the association stop parading themselves as national officers of ANLCA, in consonance with the declaration of Justice Aikawa of the Federal High Court, Lagos, on August 26, 2020.
Meanwhile, the embattled party, led by Tony Iju, said: “The letter is very inconsequential,” saying, “no court has ever given judgment to stop us from working. Meanwhile, our lawyer has replied them.”
A restraint letter written by Afe Babalola Chambers and addressed to the Chairman, House Committee on Customs and Excise, urged the affected parties to stop parading themselves as executives nor take actions for the association.
The letter, dated October, 11, 2021, alleged that: “In defiance of the order, Tony Iju Nwabunike, Kayode Farinto, Mukhaila Babatunde and Hajia Bola Muse have continued to parade themselves as national president, vice-president, secretary and financial secretary of the association and have been attending meetings on issues affecting ANLCA.”
It, however, noted that, “the position of the law is that once a case is filed, parties should not engage in any act that can prejudice the decision of the Court or bring the judicial process into public ridicule and when a court order is made, parties must comply with the order till the said order is appealed and upturned by appellate court. In the instance case, the Court order is still subsisting and parties must comply with it,” it stated.
The embattled party, in a reply by D.A Awosika Chambers, said the said case, “which was formerly before Justice Aikawa is now pending before Justice D.E Osiagor of the Federal High Court, Lagos.
It stated that the party had filed a notice of preliminary objection, challenging the jurisdiction of the court and the application is dated July 22, 2021, and still pending for the determination of the court.
“The basis for our objection before the court is that the plaintiffs in the aforementioned case surreptitiously approached the Federal High Court for reliefs but failed to disclose in their originating summon that they were not parties to the judgment delivered in suit no: FHC/L/CS/1247/2018-between Sky Sail Nigeria Limited $ Anor vs registered trustee of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents & Ors, which they are seeking to enforce and take benefit of the extant suit before Justice Aikawa,” it stated in part.
