…orders Daura’s faction to behave

Fresh facts emerging indicate that the Alhaji Bala Daura’s interim leadership of the Association of Registered Freight Forwarders of Nigeria (AREFFN), may have been run ultra-vires of the laws, following startling revelations by the embattled founder and President of the association, Dr. Frank Ukor.

This is even as the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding of Nigeria (CRFFN)  has waded into the leadership crisis, ordering Daura’s faction to respect due procedure, cease from parading itself as interim President, and together with his supporters, Messrs Ejike Metu and Innocent Elum, work with Ukor the rightful president towards its election in April 2018.

The CRFFN in a reply to Ukor’s correspondence notifying it of developments at AREFFN, hinged its decision on available facts on the matter, and recognized Ukor as the man vested with the lawful leadership of the association. In its letter with Refer CRFFN/AREFFN/RG/014 and dated 11th January 2018, the Council discountenanced the purported interim management of AREFFN as vested on Daura by the duo of Metu and Elum as lacking necessary internal democracy, due process and enabling decorum, and therefore inappropriate and out of order.

The Council’s letter sighted by our reported reads in part:
“Pursuant to the provisions of Section 4 (d) of the CRFFN ACT 2007 inter alia, regulating and controlling all the associations of Freight Forwarding agents and also provisions of Section 29 of same Act, which confers powers to Council to make regulations including the accreditation of Associations of Freight Forwarders in Nigeria as enshrined in official gazette 2010 rule 4(1) of 0813-815.

“It stipulates conditions for accreditations, ethics of the process, conduct of Freight Forwarders, and actions that constitute misconduct etc. In accordance with this Act therefore, Associations are reminded that Nigeria is a democratic nation and all professional associations have queued the democratic system of succession of executives, be it local or national, in the same vein our noble profession is operating on democratic system of election that neither your Constitution nor Act recognize appointment into executive positions. If any attempt was made, it is null and void”,

adding: “The current National Executive led by Dr. Frank Ukor is the authentic leadership recognized by Council for the regulation of Freight Forwarders in Nigeria”, and signed by Council Registrar, Mike Jukwe.

Meanwhile, Ukor has punctured the claim of Metu and Elum being second, third and only members of the association’s Board of Trustees (BoT) as barefaced posturing, arguing that the board consists of about ten members including himself. He accused Daura of sponsoring the duo to destabilize the association and take over its leadership through the back door.

He accused Daura and his supporters of of using the Zone 2 Police command to harass, arrest and detained him for two days, where he was also coerced to sign a letter purporting recognition of Daura as an interim president. He charged Daura of anti-association behavior bothering on financial improprieties, embezzlement, professional misconduct, unlawful wind down of Onne Chapter of AREFFN, illegal production and circulation of association’s letter headed documents without authority, willful attempts to cause disaffection and ill will between members of the association.

Ukor dismissed threats to get the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on his heels on alleged misappropriation and embezzlement as ranting of unimaginable delusion, explaining that if anyone has need to be apprehensive, it should be Daura, noting that Met and Elum are on the path of infamous and ignoble errand that would do them no good.

“They say they will invite the EFCC to arrest and investigate me. I am waiting for them. Between me and their sponsor, we shall know how EFCC will prosecute. It is a pity that Metu and Elum have cheaply given up on themselves for a bowl of meal, I am waiting for them”, he said.

“We founded AREFFN in 2007. In 2008 it was incorporated with the CAC. I and Innocent Elum started AREFFN. I paid N230, 000.00 for the registration while Elum paid N30, 000.00. Then there was the need to constitute a leadership, for some time, we couldn’t get anyone, nobody was willing to be the president because it entails expences. At a time I even approached about two people to see if they can take it over. Finally, I accepted to be the president for the formative period of five years.

“After we became a little organized, there was election and I emerged the President. I sold about four of my landed properties, houses and shops at the Lagos Trade Fair to raise money to run the association. I attended over 400 meetings and fought wars on behalf of AREFFN. This secretariat is N500, 000 per annum, calculate how much it cost since 2007?

“By the time I turn in my account, AREFFN will be the one owing me, I am not the one owing them. My sin was telling them that things must be done properly; Metu and Elum say they are the board, how can they be the board? We are about ten, and there is also NEC, but they want to hear of this, and I cannot let them have their way illegally.

I have NEC’s mandate to continue to run the affairs of AREFFN for six months and convey an Annual General Meeting and organize election. Bala is free to run, Elum is free to run, whoever wishes is free to run, but I have had my time, I even told them I can organize election in three months but they insisted I should have six months to be able to bring all aggrieved members onboard.”

Recall that his opponents last week accused him of sight tight syndrome and embezzlement of about association N12million, which he has denied flatly. He not only denied all the accusations leveled against him, he said Lawal Daura is the one who should be explaining unremitted funds he collected on behalf of AREFFN, which he has refused to account for.

Seme Border command of  Nigeria Customs Service (NCS)  has intercepted a total of 55,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) smuggled in 2,200×25 litres between 1st December 2017 to date, at Pashi-Yekeme community in Owode and the creeks.

The Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the command, Comptroller Aliyu Mohammed who disclosed this in a press briefing at Seme put the Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the seized product at over ten million naira (N10, 000,000).

Mohammed who noted that the smuggling of petroleum product in jericans had been a recurring decimal that customs operatives always nip in the bud being  the command’s modest contribution in ameliorating the suffering of Nigerian masses over the current shortage of the PMS products in the country.

” Today is another milestone in the history of Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, which afforded me the opportunity to showcase the command’s continued and relentless onslaught in combating the smuggling of petroleum products (In jericans of 25 litres and NOT trucks as widely speculated) through the creeks and illegal routes.

“The NCS (Seme border command) is certain and categorical to Nigerians that our operational norms does not allows trucks/tankers of petroleum products to cross the Nigeria territory either through the Seme main border nor its Owode-Apa Outstation. It is pertinent to note that the Owode-Apa Outstation is synonymous to every approved border post manned by all relevant Government security agencies (Nigeria Customs, Police, Immigration, Air force, Navy, DSS, SON, NAFDAC, Quarantine, Civil Defence, among others).

“This is because all loaded trucks with petroleum products meant for Seme axis are strictly monitored and documents provided are carefully scrutinized in order to avoid diversion/infractions, and to equally ensure that the products meant for the axis are actually discharged strictly at the approved filling station along Seme main border or Owode-Apa border communities.

“Our officers of the anti-bunkering unit are detailed to escort all loaded incoming trucks to ensure strict compliance in discharging the products to the border communities. Our surveillance becomes inevitable because Nigerians who resides along the borders have the right to be served with these products for their local economic activities, once the approved structures in the community and the documents of the products are verified to be approved to them by the DPR.

“However, the Seme border command keep patrolling the border to checkmate and ensure that the products discharged and sold to individuals who may be ‘greedy’ and always attempt smuggling it out through the creeks and illegal route at night are apprehended and seized”.

While assuring all Nigerians that the present leadership of the Nigeria Customs Service led by Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali Rtd was ready to bring all erring officers who circumvents government efforts to face the consequences of their actions once their operations was seen to be at abeyance or not in sync with their core mandates, he warned all smugglers and perpetrators of the illicit acts to desist from it or be made to face the full wrath of the law when caught as according to him,” others are currently being convicted”.

The Nigerian Shippers’ Council is set  to hold a one-day meeting with its stakeholders on the operations of the Kaduna Dry Port.

The meeting which is expected to focus on the processes of documentation of the Kaduna bound cargoes, obligations of Terminal operators and shipping companies, would hold January 25th 2018 at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The meeting would equally look at the expected roles of other stakeholders in ensuring the smooth operations of the facility and how best to successfully operationalise the Kaduna Dry Port.

The Inland Ports being facilitated by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council is an intermodal terminal directly connected by road or rail to a seaport and operating as a centre for the shipment of the cargoes to inland destination.

Recall that President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari recently commissioned the Kaduna Inland Dry Port for the commencement of full operations at the Dry Port.

The 5000 TEU facility located on the Kachia Road in Kaduna gained its port status through official gazette having satisfied all requirements recommended by the Federal Ministry of Transportation and Nigerian Shippers’ Council in accordance with international best practices.

The Nigeria Customs Service has announced a promotion of three senior officers to the ranks of Deputy Controllers General (DCG) and Assistant Controllers General (ACG) as approved by the Controller General, Col. Hameed Ali.

A press release signed by Joseph Attah, spokesman for the customs disclosed that ACG Isa Talatu Mairo has been elevated to Acting DCG in charge of Tariff and Trade while Bukar Amajam, former Comptroller is elevated to Acting ACG Enforcement,Investigation and Inspection(EI&I)

David Elisha Chikan another Comptroller was promoted to Acting ACG Human Resources and Development.

The redeployed officers, according to the release are DCG Chidi Augustine who moves from Excise,Industrial Incentives and Free Trade Zone to Strategic Research and Policy(SR&P).

DCG Iferi Patience from SR&P to EI&I; ACG Sarki Umar Folashade from EI&I to to SR&P; ACG Fatade Adenrele moved from ZoneD headquarters to EI&I; ACG Enwereuzor moved from SR&P to Zone D headquarters and Azarema Ahmed from Coordinator of CGC Compliance Team to Federal Operations Unit Zone C Owerri

Others that were moved include Odibu Christopher former Controller Ikorodu Lighter Terminal to Controller Oyo Osun Command and Deputy Comptroller Adeniran J.O. moved from EI&I to Ikorodu Lighter Terminal.

Ali, according to the statement, “charged the affected officers to see their appointments and redeployments as opportunities to contribute their best towards consolidating the gains of the ongoing reforms in the service”

Following the involvement of President Muhammadu Buhari’s only son, Yusuf in a ghastly accident, during a power-bike racing on Tuesday, December 26,2017, facts have emerged on how Yusuf secretly acquired the two multi million naira bikes.

Reliable source at the presidency said that the two BMW power-bikes, cost a whopping sum of $157, 000, (56million naira) each from Germany were acquired secretly by Yusuf around June, 2017 at the instance of his friend, Bashir Gwandu.

Upon the purchase of the two power bikes, they were kept at Gwandu’s residence, located in Gwarinpa District, in the Bwari Local Government Area.

Yusuf, who is attached with three operatives from the Department of State Service (DSS) reportedly struck a deal with his security details, who allowed him to always sneak out in the night for racing at Gwandu’s place.

The operatives, against their pattern of operation and procedure of duty perpetually rolled out their daily reports without that aspect of Yusuf’s movement, the compromise that got President Buhari seriously infuriated.

It was learnt that the three operatives have since been shown out of the service. The affected operatives were first suspended indefinitely and later dismissed. Yusuf Buhari is still recuperating in hospital after the ghastly bike accident.