KOREDE FOGO
The president of the Association of Nigerian Liscenced Customs Agents (ANLCA), Tony Iju Nwabunike, yesterday said he is ready to grant amnesty to expelled members of the association.
Recall that the National Executive Committee (NECOM) of the association had expelled eight members of the association for act of gross misconduct.
The expelled members are a former president of the association, Ernest Elochukwu and his company, Nestelo Global Limited; a former secretary of the Board, Tai Oyeniyi and his company Mac-Mary Nigeria Limited; and a former Coordinator of the Western Zone, John Oforbike and his company, Salim International Nigeria Limited.
Other expelled members of the association were Temitope Akinyele and his company Green Star Nigeria Limited; former National Publicity of the association, Joe Sanni and his company, Multimodal Logistics Ltd; former Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Taiwo Mustapha and his company, Pyramid Nigeria Limited; Bayo Oyekangun and his company, Bay-Lee Agencies Limited.
However, in a press statement made available to BusinessInsiderNG, yesterday, Nwabunike, said he is ready to extend olive branch to only members who are remorseful.
He said, ‘I also extend the olive branch again to our former members who show remorse and true repentance. We may review the various sanctions ranging from suspension to expulsion and grant them amnesty for readmission, if they truly change and resolve to abide by our constitution.”
“This is not out of fear or cowardice and therefore should not be taken for granted because under my watch any form of indiscipline or lawless behavior will not cordoned.”
‘Our secretariat is open and functioning for our members use and operation while as leaders we keep working towards a more peaceful and orderly body. ANLCA as a body of professionals shall continually pursue the interest of the national economy by supporting Federal Government ease of doing business and trade facilitation agenda.”
The ANLCA president, however, disclosed that the association lost over N20 million to the second attack unleashed on the national secretariat by suspected thugs.
His words, “We are ever committed to the survival, growth and development of ANLCA and will not betray the mandate given us to lead it which expires in April 2023.
“Recall that after an attack on our secretariat on October 6, 2020 by hoodlums armed with guns, cutlasses, charms and other dangerous items, we lost over N20 million worth of property.
“Our members and secretariat staff on ground were beaten up and harassed by hired thugs in this incident. While the police and our national officers are taking inventory of any loss or damage from recent attacks, without accusing anyone, some persons have started faulting our stock taking move in a panicky display. We won’t watch our dear association destroyed while we fold our hands.
“Whatever lawful means available to seek redress and get justice is what we will perpetually be committed to. A licensed customs agents is not expected to be a thug or promoter of thugs to unleash attack on the secretariat of the foremost body of professionals in customs brokerage in Nigeria. We are never part of if we can’t have it, let’s destroy it mentality.”
“My administration has always been open to reconciliation In the interest of one united and indivisible ANLCA. I hereby enjoin all our members across the country to continually be law abiding and report attacks or threat to attack them to the police.”