…Says Judge assigned to suit against CRFFN
The Elders’ Council and the National Executive Council of the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA) has reminded the Registrar, Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), Sir Mike Jukwe of the disclaimer it earlier made on Chief Austin Kelly and Mr. Festus Ukwu in relation to the forthcoming election of freight forwarding practitioners into the Governing Council of CRFFN.
It will be recalled that the NCMDLCA had on 25th of June, 2018 written a disclaimer addressed to the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) and copied CRFFN Registrar, Sir Mike Jukwe, the Department of State Security (DSS) and the Inspector-General of Police where they claimed that Mr. Festus Ukwu who signed a Communiqué on behalf of the association announcing the adoption of sharing formula by the five accredited freight forwarding associations for the election adding that Mr. Ukwu did not and “can never represent the position of National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents and therefore should be disregarded”.
The association continued, “Secondly, there is a document on the social media tagged, ‘Names of Contestants Cleared for the CRFFN Governing Council Election’ therein enlisted Dikeanwah Austin Kelly as having been endorsed by the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents to fill in one undemocratic post allocated to National Council of Managing Directors by the four associations is a fallacy.
“National Council of Managing Directors of Customs Licensed Agents having filed originating summons challenging the legality or otherwise of the CRFFN guidelines on the June 29, 2018 slated CRFFN governing board election couldn’t have endorsed any candidate for the said election.
“The purported undemocratic sharing of 15 posts meant for the five accredited associations was done without the consent of the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents and Mr. Festus Ukwu who purportedly endorsed that document, signed without the authorization of the Elders’ Forum and Executive Council of the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents and Dikeanwah Austin Kelly cleared by CRFFN as a representative of the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents was not also endorsed by the Council.
“If concensus election or sharing is general agreed, in the eyes of law and by Supreme Court judgment on equality of associations, the 15 posts should be shared equally by the five accredited associations named above.
“Due to clear violation of the Act especially section 13 of CRFFN Act and CRFFN Act (annual subscription and other levies) regulation 2010, we, in the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents have resolved not to participate in the forthcoming election into CRFFN governing board”.
The document was signed by the acting National President, Dr. John Emeagi, NCMDLCA Liaison Officer to CRFFN, Mr. Ezeani Leonard, Chairman Tincan Island Chapter, Pastor Nnamdi Albert, Chief Chris Keme, Mr. Okechukwu Sunday and Alhaji A. Umaru.
However, in a press release jointly issued in Lagos and signed by the NCMDLCA Liaison Officer to CRFFN, Mr. Ezeani Leonard, Chairman Professional Committee, Chief Chris Keme and Chairman Registration Committee, Pastor Nicodemus Odolo, the association reminded CRFFN that,”Further to the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents disclaimer on Dikeanwah Austin Kelly and Festus Ukwu in our letter dated June 25, 2018 and addressed to Executve Secretary of Nigerian Shippers’ Council as port economic regulator and copied the Registrar of CRFFN herein state specifically that Dikeanwah Austin Kelly is the same Austin Kelly Dike arraigned in absentia in the Federal High Court of Nigeria, holding at Lagos along six others in the suit no; FHC/L/CS/212/2011 filed by the Registered Trustees of the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents’… (Plaintiff) on membership impersonation and forgery by Austin Kelly Dike and others.
“That in course of trial, the plaintiff observed that its stamp and letter head papers were forged by the defendants and consequently petitioned the Police.
“That on getting the information about the said petition, Austin Kelly Dike and 2 others evaded Police invitation.
“That the Police after discreet investigation, charged two suspects who honoured the said invitation to court on forgery before his Honour, Chief Magistrate O.A Ogala of Court 6, Ebute-Meta Lagos in charge no:F/23/A/2010 and suit no:misc/mca/144/2010 of 21st April, 2010.
“That suddenly, Dikeanwah Austin Kelly was handpicked from his incommunicado and imposed on the plaintiff by his cohorts, screened by CRFFN to take up the only slot for the plaintiff by virtue of CRFFN Act 16, 2007.
“That despite all the plaintiff’s effort for a credible election, the Registrar of CRFFN has swept our complaints under the carpet.
“In the circumstance, we the plaintiff by this press release remind the defendants that the said suit has already been assigned to a judge and hearing will soon commence”.
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