AJOKE PHILIP
The Council of Maritime Transport Unions and Associations (COMTUA) has threatened to sue the Amuwo Odofin Local Government over allegation of extortion against truck drivers.
In a letter addressed to the Council chairman by the chambers of Komolafe Temilorun on behalf of COMTUA dated 24th February 2022, the law firm said extortion needed to be discontinued.
The letter titled, pre-action notice and a copy made available to BUSINESSinsideeng, said the only legal fee expected from a truck driver is Wharf landing fee.
The Letter reads, ”Sequel to series of appeal ane demands that have been, written and forwarded to your office via various letters of the illegal activities of officials of the Amuwo Odofin Local Government, i write on behalf of the Council of Maritime Transport Unions and Associations (hereinafter referred to a “My Client’), on whose instructions i write this petition against the illegal activities of officials from, your office.
“With utmost regards to the provisions of the Amuwo Odofin Local Government Bye Laws 2017 as well as other overriding statutes, no jurisdiction or authority is given to local government to impose levies and charges an my Clients’ trucks,
“The only statutory fees required of My Client is the WHARF LANDING FEE which is being duly paid, and remitted to the local government in some ways. As a result, all monies forcefully collected from My Clients are illegal collections. We find these feces as extortive and being acts of corruption by coercion against my Client.”
Komolafe, however, advised the local government chairman to stop the continued extortion of his clients else they may be forced to initiate legal proceedings against the council.
“These official who claimed to be working for the local government stage more than five area of these illegal collection on a daily basis at Amuwo Odofin Local Government leaving my clients in great financial discomfort and loss.
“It is in the interest of justice to re-orientate your officials and stop them from these unlawful collections, within seven days of the service of this notice on you, failure of which We shall be seeking redress in a competent court of law.”