The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Importers Association of Nigeria (IMAN) has said that the expulsion of Chief Emmanuel Osita Okereke from the association in December 2015 has been upheld by the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division.
The Board in a statement issued by its Chairman, Chief Gilbert Obi said that the Court of Appeal delivered the landmark judgment which affirmed the expulsion of Chief Emmanuel Osita Okereke from the association and the National Taskforce (NATFORCE) by its members on 11th February, 2019.
The statement recalled that the Board of (IMAN) had in December 2015 expelled Chief EmmanuelOsita Okereke from the association due to several illegal activities by him, including going to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to forge another certificate of IMAN without the approval of the Board of Trustees.
It went on to say that the IMAN BOT had to expel him in 2015 following his conduct which was regarded as a criminal offence and forgery as well as his refusal to show any remorse for his fraudulent acts.
The statement reads,” Chief Emmanuel Okereke with his criminal intent, however took the association to the Abuja High Court and obtained a kangaroo judgement in his favour on January 23rd, 2017.
“On our part, the Board of Trustees of IMAN feeling dissatisfied with the High Court judgement, appealed the case at the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja.
“The IMAN BOT filed an appeal against the decision of the Abuja High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Suit No: FCT/HC/CV/710/2016, between the registered Trustees of Importers Association of Nigeria (IMAN), Chief Gilbert Bravo Obi, Obong Patrick Udoh, Alhaji (Dr.) Bature Aldullaziz (MON), Alhaji Aliyu Ahmed Yar’dua and Hon. Kingsley Chikezie as appellants while Chief Emmanuel Okereke was listed as the respondent.
“In the appeal by IMAN, the Court upheld and affirmed the expulsion of Chief Emmanuel Osita Okereke from IMAN and NATFORCE. The judgement was delivered with a case number CA/A/177/2017 on February 11th, 2019. With this landmark judgement, Chief Emmanuel Osita Okereke stands expelled from IMAN and NATFORCE.
“This press statement has become necessary to officially nform the security agencies, IMAN members and the general public that Chief Emmanuel Osita Okereke is not a member of Board of Trustees nor member of IMAN and NATFORCE.
“IMAN also want to call on the security agencies to be on the alert to arrest Chief Emmanuel Osita Okereke if he so parade himself either as a member of BoT of IMAN and NATFORCE or a member of IMAN and NATFORCE.
“IMAN BOT and other members want to assure the general public and government at all levels in Nigeria that IMAN will continue to checkmate the activities of importers and their agents to support other government agencies in tackling the menace of illegal importation of arms and ammunition, false declarations, concealment and short payment of government duties among other illegalities”.
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