[dropcap]A[/dropcap] gang of five cultists have butchered an officer of the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corp, Mr. Moshood Bolaji at a bar in Surulere area of Lagos, Southwest Nigeria. Bolaji was killed on Wednesday at about 9:30pm at Umunede Bar in Mallam Isah close, Aguda-Surulere by a suspected gang of five cultists.
He was said to have been held down and slaughtered by the cultists after gunshots at him did not penetrate.However, the Lagos State Police Command has launched a man hunt for the killers of the officer.
The State’s Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal who paid a condolence visit to the family of the Aguda-Surulere office of the Corps, said he had directed a contingent of Special Anti Robbery Squad personnel (SARS) and the personnel of the Command Anti-Cultism Squad to relocate to Census Police Outpost, Aguda-Surulere with immediate effect.
He also mandated them to take the fight to the criminal enclaves of the cultists and a fish out the killers of late Moshood Bolaji. According to the CP, three suspects had so far been arrested in connection with the case and were currently undergoing interrogation at the Command Anti-Cultism Squad.
Imohimi, who also paid a condolence visit to the family of late Bolaji said the entire State Police Command were saddened by the incident, assuring them that the Command would leave nothing to chance to unravel the killers of their late bread winner.
[dropcap]S[/dropcap]ince the return to democratic rule in 1999, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has conducted the general elections on a two-tier or three-tier basis. Even though the national assembly had attempted in the past to use the Electoral Act to alter the sequence of elections fixed by the INEC it did not succeed. In spite of the ongoing controversy surrounding the sequence of elections our recent experience as a nation has shown that there is nothing sacrosanct about it. In 1999 and 2007 the presidential election came up last while it came up first in 2015. In influencing the order of elections in 2015 the ruling party had thought that holding the presidential election first would have bandwagon effect on the outcome of the other elections. But the result was a disaster for the ruling party.
It has equally been confirmed that when elections into the legislative houses were held before other election in the past majority of sitting legislators lost their seats. So, there is no indication that President Mohammadu Buhari stands to benefit electorally from the decision of the INEC to retain the 2015 sequence of elections. But notwithstanding the reactions of the presidency and the national assembly to the sequence of elections announced by the INEC it is pertinent to review the relevant provisions of the Constitution, the Electoral Act and judicial authorities on the vexed issue.
In preparations for the 2019 general elections the INEC recently released a timetable for party primaries and the elections into the various offices in exercise of its powers under Sections 76, 116, 132 and 178 as well as paragraph 15 of Part 1 of the Third Schedule made pursuant to section 153 (1) of the Constitution. Under the arrangement the presidential and national assembly elections will be held on February 16, 2019 while the governorship and house of assembly elections will take place on March 2, 2019. But in the Electoral Bill 2018 recently passed by the national assembly the sequence of the general elections has been altered. The sequence of proposed by the new amendment is A. National Assembly Election, B. Governorship and State Assembly Elections and C. Presidential Election.
No doubt, the matter has generated a needless controversy to the extent that little or no attention is paid to the other provisions of the Electoral Bill which have the capacity to promote internal democracy and enhance the credibility of the electoral process. Perhaps not aware of the state of the law the INEC has announced its intention to approach the Supreme Court to test the constitutional validity of the Electoral Bill 2018 if it is eventually signed into law by the President. Since there are indications that the President may withhold his assent in the circumstance, the national assembly has threatened to override his veto.
Having watched the trend of the debate it is regrettable to note that the parties involved in the dispute have not studied the decision of the Court of Appeal in the case of National Assembly v. President (2003) 9 NWLR (PT 824) 104 at 143-144. In that case, President Obasanjo had refused to assent to the Electoral Bill 2002 which had been passed by both Chambers of the National Assembly and transmitted to him June 24, 2002. Subsequently, by a motion of veto-override the national assembly passed the bill into law. In an originating summons filed at the Federal High Court the INEC challenged the validity of the passage of the Bill into law and the constitutionality of Section 15 of the Act which had provided that general elections shall be held in one day.
The trial court held that the Bill was properly passed into law but that Section 15 thereof was inconsistent with Sections 76, 116, 132 and 178 of the Constitution. Dissatisfied with the annulment of Section 15 of the Electoral Act, the national assembly filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal. On his own part, the Attorney-General of the Federation filed a cross appeal to challenge the passage of the Bill into law. In its judgment the Court of Appeal held that the manner of passing the bill into was unconstitutional but declined to set it aside on ground of public policy as the 2003 general elections were being conducted under the law. However, the Court of Appeal affirmed the decision of the Federal High Court on the illegality of Section 15 of the Electoral Act.
In his contribution to the judgment of the Court, Oduyemi J.C.A (as he then was) stated that “in so far as Section 15 of the Electoral Act, 2002 seeks to fetter that discretion and limit the 3rd Defendant to only one day in the year for all elections to the offices concerned, that provision of the Act is inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution above referred to and is to that extent a nullity. Section 1(3) of the Constitution… All in all, I agree with the reasoning in the judgment of the lower court and with the conclusion in the judgment that Section 15 of the Electoral Act, 2002 is inconsistent with the specific provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 in Section 132(1), 76(1), 178(1), 116(1), 78, 118 and Item 15(a) of the 3rd Schedule: that it infringes upon the absolute discretion vested by the Constitution on the 3rd Respondent with regard to the fixing of dates for election into the various offices concerned.”
However, the national assembly took advantage of the 2010 Alteration of the Constitution to attempt to overrule the judgment of the Court of Appeal in the case of the National Assembly v. The President (supra). Thus, in the first alteration made to the Constitution, the national assembly amended sections 132(1), 76(1), 178(1), 116(1), 118 and 178 of the Constitution by adding the phrase “in accordance with the Electoral Act”. Although the power of the INEC to “organize, undertake and supervise” the general elections conferred on it by paragraph 15 of part 1 of the third schedule made pursuant to section 153 of the Constitution was left intact, the national assembly members erroneously believed that they had conferred on themselves the power to fix the dates for general elections in Nigeria. Hence, in the 2018 Electoral Bill, the national assembly is alleged to have tampered with the discretion of the INEC to fix the dates for the 2019 general elections.
Apart from the illegality of subjecting the provisions of the Constitution to the Electoral Act, the Alteration of the Constitution did not confer on the national assembly the power of fix dates for holding the general election in Nigeria. To that extent, the national assembly cannot use the Electoral Act to usurp the powers exclusively conferred on the INEC to appoint dates for holding the general elections in the country. Indeed, the Supreme Court has had cause, after the first 2010 Alteration of the Constitution, to confirm the discretionary power of the INEC to fix the dates for holding the general elections.
In PDP V. SYLVA (2012) 13 NWLR (PT 1316) 85 the respondent challenged the decision of the INEC to cancel and reschedule the 2012 governorship election in Bayelsa State. In dismissing the contention the Supreme Court (per Rhodes Vivour JSC) held that ‘’INEC has the sole responsibility to fix dates for election and to my mind if INEC fixes a date for elections and for whatever reason, be it logistic, I do not think anyone has a cause of action against INEC for canceling an election (not held) and rescheduling elections for another day’’.
Similarly, in NDP V INEC (2013) 20 WRN 1 at 45 the Supreme Court (per Ariwoola J.S.C.) held that “It is not in doubt that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that is, the respondent, has the sole responsibility to decide when elections are to hold. See Peoples Democratic Party v Timipre Sylva & Ors (2012) 13 NWLR (Pt 1316) 85 at 122. The respondent also reserves the prerogative to decide what Timetable to of Activities to publish for a General Election.” Furthermore, in Hon. James Abiodun Faleke v INEC (2016) 50 WRN 1 the Supreme Court reiterated the view that by virtue of paragraph 15 of Part 1 of the Third Schedule made pursuant to section 153 (1) (f) and (i) of the Constitution, the Independent National Electoral Commission has power to organize, undertake and supervise all elections to the offices of the President, Vice President, the Governor and Deputy Governor of a State and the membership of the Senate, the House of Representatives and the House of Assembly of each state of the Federation.
No doubt, the national assembly would have achieved its objective if it had incorporated the sequence of the general elections in the Constitution. But by providing that the INEC shall fix election dates “in accordance with the Electoral Act” the interference in the exercise of the discretionary power of INEC’s constitutional power to fix the dates for the elections cannot be justified in law. As far as the Constitution is concerned, the power of the INEC to organize, undertake and supervise the elections which has been interpreted to include the power to fix the dates for the general elections or determine the sequence of the elections has not been altered in any material particular.
It is the height of legislative absurdity to say that the power donated to the INEC by the Constitution shall be exercised in accordance with the provision of an interior legislation. In Attorney-General, Abia State v. Attorney-General of the Federation (2002) 1 WRN 1 at 45 Kutigi CJN (as he then was) held that “where the provision in the Act is within the legislative powers of the National Assembly but the Constitution is found to have already made the same or similar provision, then the new provision will be regarded as invalid for duplication and/or inconsistency and therefore inoperative. The same fate will befall any provision of the Act which seeks to enlarge, curtail or alter any existing provision of the Constitution. The provision or provisions will be treated as unconstitutional and therefore null and void.”
From the foregoing, it is submitted that the interference in the exercise of the powers of the INEC to appoint dates for holding the general election in Nigeria is illegal as the provision of the Electoral Bill, 2018 is inconsistent with Sections 76,116,132 and 178 of the Constitution. To the extent of such inconsistency, the provision of the Electoral Bill is illegal, null and void as stipulated by section 1 (3) of the Constitution. In other words, since the INEC has been empowered to organize, undertake and supervise all elections the National Assembly cannot rely on the provision of the Electoral Act to usurp the powers of the INEC to fix the dates for the elections. In view of the settled position of the law the INEC should not waste public funds by rushing to the Supreme Court to contest its own constitutional duty to organize, undertake and supervise the 2019 general elections.
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he trial of five men who were charged with illegal importation of 661 pump-action guns continued on Monday, with the first defendant, Mahmud Hassan, alleging that the gang paid N1m to security agents to smuggle in the gun consignment at Apapa Port, Lagos.
Hassan made the allegation in a video played in court on Monday by the prosecution.The video was played in a trial-within-trial to test the voluntariness of the statement made by Hassan while in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).
Hassan’s lawyer, Yakubu Galadima had, at the previous hearing, opposed the move by the prosecution to tender his client’s statement as an exhibit, contending that he was tortured to make the statement.
Justice Ayokunle Faji had then ordered a trial-within-trial to test the voluntariness of the statement.
At the Monday proceedings, the prosecution played a video of how Hassan was interrogated by DSS operatives.
The clip indicated that the interrogation was conducted on March 27, 2017, between 2 pm and 2.45 pm.
The prosecution tendered the video clip in court through a DSS operative, Jaiye Emmanuel.
The video captured Hassan as saying while being quizzed that, “I gave N1m to facilitate the moving of the container out of the port, but it is not because of the guns.”
When Mamadu was asked how the N1m was shared among security agencies, the defendant said, “The examiners were given N200,000, C.I.O. N100,000, enforcement N200,000; police, SSS, between N20,000, N25,000, and N30,000; the toll gates, N200,000, exit gate, N20,000, and final gate, N50,000.”
The clip also captured Hassan telling his interrogators that he first billed the owner of the consignment N3.8 million when he was first told that the container contained steel doors, but raised the cost of clearing the consignment to N4 million when he was told that the consignment included 661 pump-action guns.
Hassan is standing trial alongside Oscar Okafor, Donatus Achinulo, Matthew Okoye, said to be at large, and Salihu Danjuma.
They were arraigned by the Federal Government on June 14, 2017 for allegedly importing 661 pump-action rifles into the country without lawful authority.
In the eight charges pressed against the defendants, the Attorney General of the Federation said the defendants brought 661 pump-action rifles into the country from Turkey through the Apapa Port in Lagos, using a 40-feet container, which they falsely claimed contained steel doors.
[dropcap] T[/dropcap]he Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has attributed the lingering fuel scarcity in the country to inability of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to meet up with the nation’s petroleum consumption demand. Consequently, it called for a total deregulation of the downstream sector.
Alhaji Debo Ahmed, Chairman, IPMAN Western Zone, made the disclosure in Lagos.He spoke against the backdrop of the ongoing fuel scarcity in the country. According to Ahmed, none of the NNPC/PPMC depots within the western zone has adequate petrol in stock to cater to the demands of the public.
“The management of NNPC should increase petrol allocations to IPMAN marketers rather than allocating excess products to NNPC retailers who have less than 25-outlet within Lagos. “IPMAN that has over 2,500 members and over 500 outlets across the south west was given 30 per cent against 60 per cent agreed by NNPC and marketers,’’ he said.
Ahmed said that most IPMAN members had to close their filling stations due to the inability of NNPC/PPMC to distribute products to depots for marketers to load adequately. He said that the limited available products were having lopsided distribution formula.
“ IPMAN was given 30 per cent, MOMAN 30 and NNPC retails 50 as against 60 per cent for IPMAN and 20 for MOMAN; NNPC retails 20 in all the functioning depots in the country.“The imported petrol by NNPC/PPMC is distributed through the Private Fund Initiative (PFI) system to private depot owners (DAPPMA) to sell to Independent Marketers at a controlled price of N133.28k.
“But, DAPPMA members are selling between N160 and N162 above the regulated price, of which no marketer can buy at that price and sell at the regulated price of N145 per litre,’’ he said.
The IPMAN boss urged the government to intervene and check the activities of DAPPMA as they sold above the recommended pump price. He also urged the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) to address defaulting depot owners who sold petrol above the approved pump price.
“ DPR only descends on Independent Marketers by closing their stations.“You can only sell what you buy; we are business people, for how long do we close down our stations since we have financial obligations to the banks?
“Probably, the Federal Government may have deregulated without the public being aware.“During, the recent Senate committee meeting held with stakeholders in the oil industry, one of the suggestions from the Minster of State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kwachikwu, was the introduction of dual price regime.
“This is a regime whereby NNPC retail will be selling at N145.00 while other marketers will be selling at their own price,’’ Ahmed said.
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday ordered the defence counsel to produce Nnamdi Kanu in court on March 28, or for his sureties to explain his whereabouts. Justice Binta Nyako gave the order while ruling on an application for adjournment made by the prosecuting counsel, Shuaibu Labaran.
Mr. Kanu, who is the leader of the proscribed Indigeneous People Of Biafra, is standing trial before the court alongside three members of the group for alleged treasonable offences relating to the agitation of the group for separation of the South-east and South-south regions from Nigeria.
He was admitted to bail on April 25, 2017 with the Chairman, South-east Senate caucus, Enyinnaya Abaribe; a Jewish High Chief Priest, Immanuu-El Shalom, and a Chartered Accountant, Tochukwu Uchendu signing his bail bond.
Mr. Kanu has, however, not appeared in court since his bail and his counsel, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, repeatedly told the court that he was in the custody of the Nigerian Army, an allegation the army has denied.
Mrs. Nyako had earlier granted an application seeking to separate Mr. Kanu’s charges from that of the other defendants, Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Benjamin Madubugwu, David Nwawuisi.
She granted the application particularly since none of the defendants raised an objection to it.
Mr. Labaran told the court that since Mr. Kanu’s absence was frustrating proceedings in the matter, justice would be better served if the charges were separated so that the case of the three defendants could go on.“In view of the court granting the application to severe the charge of the first defendant from the others, we shall be asking for a short adjournment to enable us tidy our processes and for the records of the court to be neater,” he said.
Mr. Pan Ejiofor, counsel to Benjamin Madubugwu, attempted to ask the court for bail to enable his client seek medical attention but the judge said she was not disposed to granting bail to any of the other defendants.
She, however, advised the counsel to liaise with the prison authorities, saying if they agreed to attach a warden to the defendant, she would make an order allowing him to go to any government hospital.
She also adjourned that of the other defendants until March 20.
Mr. Kanu and his co-defendants are standing trial on a five -count charge bordering on felony.
Some of the charges include treasonable felony, unlawful possession of firearms, unlawful assembly and other offences bordering on their agitation for secession of the Republic of Biafra from Nigeria.
[dropcap]B[/dropcap]enin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) may face a difficult time in Delta State as electricity consumers in Ezenei,Asaba district are perfecting plans for mass disconnection from public power supply.
Investigation by Grassroots Publishers revealed that the action of the consumers is as a result of anger arising from exorbitant bills imposed on the consumers by the BEDC.
The fact which emerged within the week is fuelled by high bills currently being distributed and have met stiff rejection. According to some of the aggrieved consumers who pleaded anonymity, the current bills being distributed is a confirmation of the orchestrated agenda of BEDC to impose hardship on Deltans for selfish gain since March.
The aggrieved consumers noted that the hidden agenda of BEDC started last year, when the company imposed crazy bills on Deltans ranging from N12, 000 to 25,000 indiscriminately on occupants of two and three bedroom flats respectively.
They said the insensitivity of BEDC continued as the company ignored consumers’ protests and public outcry and distributed another high bills in April ranging from N9, 000 to N20, 000 and capped it with yet high bills in June when the company did not supply light in May.
Information also scooped within the week revealed that some consumers have concluded plans to drag BEDC to court to explain the high bills being imposed on Deltans. A dependable source at the company’s Ezenei district office in Asaba, told The Grassroots Publishers that some consumers had been coming for their monthly metre readings as part of information being gathered to slam law suits on BEDC.
The inside source blamed the high bills on the management of BEDC by choosing to use estimated bills instead of working on the metre readings presented for computation by the marketing staff.
Electricity consumers in Ezenei, Asaba and environs in Delta State, have accused officials and management of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), of its outrageous and estimated bills being imposed on them, describing it as exploitative, fraudulent, wicked and intentional.
A customer, residing at Nwadu Okobi street off Ezenei in Asaba town of the State, who pleaded anonymity while speaking to Grassroots Publishers, accused the electricity company of outrageous and crazy bills even when there is no power supply.Another customer who also never wanted his name in print for fear of being singled out, disclosed that since he moved into his apartment in April 1, 2017, he has always been given outrageous bills even when there is no light. “How can you charge a two bedroom flat apartment #20,000.00 every month, what am using?”‘ he asked.
Displaying the recent bill given to him, he said the electricity company do not even come for monthly Metre Reading noting that when you look at the place of Metre Reading in the bill, it is written NA which he said he could only interpret to be ‘Not Available’ while in the place of date it is also written, ‘Not Available’ and the area of bill type, he said it is written MD Average.
Speaking further, the customer said, he has also drawn the attention of the BEDC Marketer Manager in Ezenei area office and complained to him about the outrageous bill, but he only told him that, he will what he can do. He further stated that not satisfied with the response from the manager and at the office, he sent a mail to the head office and put a call across to the customer care line severally to complain, but no response was given.
The customer who was so bittered added that, this month bill, which is feburary bill, it is so amazing that even when they give light three hours for over two months now, he was still given an estimated bill of #20, 000,00.
He called on the Delta State government and other relevant authority to wade into the matter as it has become an avenue for BEDC official to defraud, steal and exploit their customers as some compounds of three blocks of flat pays #3,000.00 monthly while only one flat pays #20,000.00.
[dropcap]A[/dropcap]niocha North Local Government chairman, Hon. Chuks Oseme has joined Deltans to congratulate the State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa for bagging the “Man of the Year Award” from Publishers of the Independent Newspapers, over the weekend.
Congratulating the governor, Aniocha North Boss, said Governor Okowa deserve the award, especially as he had been able to manage the economic and security situation of the state, as the precarious situation of the state due to low flow of revenue, distorted the plans he initially had to fast track development, which affected Deltans.
Hon.Oseme says the award of “Man of The Year,2017”, conferred on Delta State Governor, Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa by one of Nigeria’s reputable print media, Independent Newspaper, epitomizes remarkable resourcefulness.
Hon. Chuks Oseme in a terse statement issued Monday February 19, expressed joy for the award and averred, “it is in recognition of Dr. Okowa’s remarkable resourcefulness, resilience and strong managerial acumen as reflected in his spread of infrastructural projects across the three senatorial districts in Delta State amid the difficult economic situation experienced in the country between 2015 and 2017”.
Senator Ifeanyi Okowa (left) receiving an Award as Governor of the Year 2017 from Chairman, Bulet International Limited Abuja, Alhaji Ismaila Isa Funtua, during the Celebration of Outstanding Nigerians Independent Award 2017 at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island Lagos
According to Hon. Chuks Oseme, apart from the visible infrastructural projects evenly executed by the Okowa led government in less than three years, the administration has equally generated thousands of jobs and created wealth through the YAGEP and STEP programmes as well as transformed the educational sector in the state via a strategic and diligent approach. He posited that the “Man of The Year Award” conferred on Governor Okowa Saturday February 17, will further spur his administration.
Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa (left) receiving an Award as Governor of the Year 2017 from Chairman, Bulet International Limited Abuja, Alhaji Ismaila Isa Funtua, during the Celebration of Outstanding Nigerians Independent Award 2017 at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island LagosHon. Esewezie Innocent
[dropcap]S[/dropcap]enior Special Assistant on Youths Development, Hon Innocent Esewezie,says ‘Man of The Year ‘ award bestowed on Dr. Okowa by Independent Newspaper, should be celebrated by all well-meaning Deltans, declaring that the honour is an impetus for his principal to deliver more democracy dividends.
Hon Innocent Esewezie who is eyeing the Oshimili North Constituency seat in Delta State House of Assembly come 2019, opined, “after successfully conducting two peaceful PDP National conventions and restoring stability in the party, coupled with the careful implementation of the SMART agenda”, it was no surprise that Governor Okowa bagged “the prestigious award”. According to him, even the “hardest critic of Governor Okowa can see the massive road construction across the State, investment in youth empowerment as well as agricultural programme and efforts to reform the state public service with a view to ensuring efficient service delivery”.
He said, the progress being made by the governor through his SMART agenda has really brought prosperity to the people, adding that the governor’s agenda of prosperity to all Deltans if properly harnessed is capable of solving the Niger Delta problems because causes of anger would have been addressed through it.
Speaking further, he identified the empowerment of youths in the state in various skills through the YAGEP and STEP programmes as another laudable achievement of the Governor Okowa’s administration, saying this had brought about economic growth in the state.
He added: “And of course you know that economic growth reduces hunger, which in turn would wipe out anger, as it was the root of the crises in the Niger Delta Region.”
Hon Esewezie, who advised Deltans to consistently support the present administration in Delta led by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and his deputy, Barrister Kingsley Otuaro assured that more good things would come to them in the second term of Okowa.
[dropcap]C[/dropcap]omptroller Mohammed Aliyu, A Customs Area Controller, Seme Command has intensified efforts to block the revenue leakages as the command recorded a significant revenue generation of Five Hundred and Forty-Six Million, Eight Hundred and Thirty-Seven Thousand, One Hundred and Twenty-Four Naira, Sixty-Four Kobo(546,837,124.64) as revenue in January being the first month of 2018. The revenue generated represented about 81 percent of the revenue target actualized.
The Command made a total of 64 seizures with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of Eighteen million, Three Hundred and Thirty-five Thousand, Four Hundred and Ninety-Five Naira (N18, 335, 495.00) for the period under review.
Compt. Aliyu disclosed this, saying that the Command has started on a good note. He stated that the service is ready to explore all avenues in order to ensure that the target for the year is not only met but exceeded.
The comptroller re-stated that the anti-smuggling drive of the command is well fortified against smugglers. He noted that the clamp-down on smuggling of PMS products through the creeks is a demonstration of the commands readiness to combat smuggling of any kind through the border to the barest minimum. Addressing officers and men, the controller indicated his readiness to reward excellent performance among officers as motivational incentives to ensure strict compliance to our extant laws and the service operational golden rules while discharging their responsibilities.
The controller further warned officers and men of the command not to compromise the standard set by the service but should be committed to the implementation of government fiscal policies especially now that their services are most needed.
The Customs Area Controller disclosed that the command expect a more professional approach in the handling and usage of arms among officers and men of the command. He stated this during the retraining exercise conducted by the Nigeria Army 243 Recce Battalion Badagry, Lagos. He re-stated that the exercise will equip officers with all the necessary knowledge and skills to help them deal with challenges that they may face in the course of discharging their duties.
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali has set up a committee comprising of three Deputy Comptrollers General (DCGs) and three members of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) to develop a roadmap on introduction of a uniformed value for imported vehicles into Nigeria.
National Public Relations Officer of Customs, Mr. Joseph Attah confirmed this exclusively to our correspondent at the weekend.He said that the decision was reached at a recent meeting between the Customs management and ANLCA.
Attah, however, did not expatiate but said details of the committee’s works are still under wraps.It was however gathered that the three DCGs in the committee are: DCG – Tariff and Trade, Alu S. R – Enforcement, Investigation and Inspection, Dangaladima A. A and DCG in charge of Customs ICT.
ANLCA is represented by its national president; Prince Olayiwola Shittu, Alhaji Babatunde Mukaila, and retired Customs Comptroller Olu Ogunojemite.Also confirming the development last week, Tin Can Island Chairman of ANLCA, Prince Segun Oduntan said the major challenge confronting Nigerian importers and clearing agents is lack of uniformed value on imported items, especially vehicles.
Oduntan noted that clearing agents have been clamouring for the value of vehicles to be published openly on customs website, he, however, said some corrupt officers were frustrating it because of pecuniary gains. He said that if implemented, it would eradicate the number of alerts placed on already cleared cargoes by Customs.
“We were in Abuja and we told the CGC that he should give us a value base on cars, if this is done, we as chapter chairmen will rest, the meeting we had was almost turned into fisticuffs. A committee has been set up headed by a DCG”
“As of today, some people are not ready to make it work because of what they are eating from the anomaly. The duty of vehicles should be placed online just like the tariff”, he said.
The ANLCA chairman also maintained that without the uniform value of vehicles, alerts cannot be resolved. Most of the alerts are on imported vehicles”
At the weekend, National Publicity Secretary of ANLCA, Kayode Farinto told our correspondent that there is a need for the industry to have uninformed value on vehicles.
“The DCG has approved it and it would soon see the light of the day, a committee has been formed to take care of it comprising of three DCG and three ANLCA members. Once there is a uniformed value on vehicles. It would be placed on the internet; the importer knows what to pay at all ports. If Ghana can do it, we should also do it,” he said.
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