REVEALED: Mustapha, Elochukwu, others not ANLCA BoT members- CAC report

...As Farinto restates confidence on the CRFFN peace initiative

A fresh  Corporate Affairs Commission ((CAC) report has unambiguous shown that with the exception of Chief Taiye Oyeniyi, the rest of the Mustapha faction of the Association of Nigerian Licenced Customs Agents (ANLCA) parading themselves as ‘the registered BoT,’ are not on the list of ANLCA BoT members on the CAC data base.

The report sighted by DailyNewsWire was obtained by the Nigerian Police Force, State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Yaba, Lagos on the instruction of the Ernest Elochukwu faction of ANLCA for the purpose of ascertaining  the true and active members of ANLCA BoT.

The 36 pages report dated March 13th , 2023 from the CAC with reference No RGO/SU/VOL.1/2023/0289 was addressed to the  Assistant Commissioner of Police of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba, Lagos.

The report titled: RE: CONFIRMATION OF CERTIFICATES OF INCORPORATION AND STATUS REPORT, reads in part; “We refer to your letter  with reference number AB 3383/LSX/DO/VOL.3/57 for confirmation of certificates and status report in respect of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents.

” Kindly be informed both Certificates dated 16th January 2020 and 7th September 2022 were issued by the Commission . However, they were subsequently cancelled on grounds that the appointment of Trustees was subjudice .

” The Certificate dared 16th January 2020 was cancelled on 3rd March 2020 on the findings that the advertisement for change of trustees  was made during the subsistence of a pending suit making the filing for changes unlawful and of no effect.

” Also, on the 27th September 2022, the Certificate dated 7th September 2022, was cancelled and status quo reverted in view of suits FHC/L/CS/599/2020 and FHC/CS/79/2021 which were still pending  at the time of the changes.

” Consequent on the above status quo on the Trustees has been reversed to changes filed in 2014 and contained in Certificate issued on the 13th January 2020. You may further wish to note that the 2014 application was initially not concluded on procedural queries requiring return of original Certificate of the association and submission of identification of trustees.

“Find attached status extract, certified true copies of Certificate of incorporation, extract of minutes and documents in respect of the changes filed with the Commission in 2014 reflecting the current status of the association on the Commission’s record.

The letter was signed by Maimunat Hamu Modi on behalf of the Registrar General of CAC and was copied ANLCA and Finestone Chambers.

On the real and active members of the ANLCA BoT members with  current status with CAC, the report indicates that the first on the list is Chief, Sir Henry Njoku, followed by ( late)  Alhaji Aare Sanni Shittu, Chief Sunday  Odedeyi,  Chief Peter Oge Obi, Prince Taiye Oyeniyi, Okenze  Sylvester Obinna, Chief Lawrence Asuquo, Dr. Sir Enoch Iwueze and Alhaji Aliyu Isa.

Also, the document shows past registered members of the ANLCA board who were removed to include  Otunba Oyewole Fashewe , Ofoegbu U. Ofoegbu, Dr A.B.Mamman, Sam Bamisaye, Innocent Okoye, Ezeani Mbadugha and James Idornigie.

They were removed and replaced by the Chief Henry Njoku BoT according to the CAC report.

There was nowhere in the 36 page report that Sir Ernest Elochukwu, Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha, Chief Dennis Okafor and Alhaji Dayo Azeez was either listed or mention as BoT members of ANLCA, neither did their pictures appear anywhere in the CAC document.

Reacting to the CAC report and the latest media reports credited to Chief Ernest Elochukwu and others, the Acting National President of ANLCA, Dr  Farinto Collins, said; “Iam pained to see elder statesmen behaving the way some of our so called leaders are doing. First and foremost let me state clearly that NECOM  believes in the leadership of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN). Hence we allowed and overlooked many of the things because of done peace agreement even when we know they are not in line with our Supreme Constitution,  but for the sake of association, we did give and take.

“Sir Elochukwu met  the Nigeria Police to write to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) on the true status of the Association’s BoT  and a copy of the reply has been sent to us and he and Alhaji Mustapha are not even amongst the members of our board recognised under the law.

“I have decided to release  the report to the public  for all  stakeholders to know the aggressors and that we have been magnanimous to have accepted the issues  the way it has been midwifed  by the Chairman of the Governing Board of the CRFFN.

“Secondly, Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha does not have any power to counter the decision of the National Executive Council ( NEC) to extend the NECOM election by 90 days for the Association Electoral Commission (ASECO)  to be able to conduct NECOM election. He needs to know that the day to day running of the association lies on the  NECOM and not the board, it is expressly stated in our constitution.

“Finally, I urge the ASECO to go ahead with the preparation for the conduct of the NECOM election. I also state unequivocally that we have our believe in the capabilities of Alhaji Abubakar Sanni led Governing Council of CRFFN  in piloting the affairs of freight forwarders in line with the  CRFFN Act as enshrine,” Farinto said.

Daily News Wire reports that with the latest development, it is  certain that if the gladiators will not agree with the political solution as mediated by the CRFFN, the recognised BoT can as well resumed office to restore lasting peace and if anyone continues on the war path , then the law should take it’s full weight on the culprits.