By; RAYMOND TEDUNJAYE, Lagos
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has nullified the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) Certificate of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents being paraded by some expelled members of the Association led by Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha and others.
The court in a ruling, ordered that the acclaimed BOT Certificate being paraded by Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha and others should go through arbitration with the association’ s constitution and the case was adjourned Sine die.
The Presiding Judge, Justice P. O. Lifu (JP) in his ruling, ordered a stay of further proceeding in the suit pending the activation and conclusion of arbitral proceedings by the parties in accordance with Article 26 of the parties ie 1st Defendant Constitution.
The judgement seems to lay to rest the crisis rocking the Association, which resulted in the sealing of the national Secretariat of the body by the Mustapha group aided by some policemen.
Consequently, the National Executive Committee (NECOM) of the Association led by its national President Hon. Tony Nwabunike was locked out and others staff, while the Mustapha group took over the Secretariat.
According to the Court documents, with suit No: FHC/L/CS/599/2020, Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha, Chief Dennis Okafor and Prince Taiye Oyeniyi are the Plaintiff/ Respondents and Registered Trustees of ANLCA, while Tony Nwabunike and Chief Henry Njoku as Defendants/ Applicants.
And also Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) joined as Defendant/ Respondent.
In their prayers, the plaintiffs ” upon the motion on notice dated 3rd of August 2020 and filed on the 7th day of August, 2020 coming up before this Honourable court and praying for the following reliefs:
1 An order of this Honourable court staying all further proceedings in this suit Sine die pending the activation and conclusion of arbitral proceedings by the parties herein.
2 And for such further or other orders as this Honourable court may deem fit to make in the circumstance(s) of the case.
But the presiding Judge, Justice P. O. Lifu (JP) hereby ordered as follows:
1 That a stay of further proceeding in this suit is hereby ordered pending the activation and conclusion of arbitral proceedings by the parties in accordance with Article 26 of the parties ie 1st Defendant Constitution.
2 That this suit is hereby adjourned Sine die pending arbitration. Issued at Lagos , under the hand of the seal of this Honourable court this 1st day of Febuary 2022.”
What this means is that the court has ordered Mustapha and Co to go back to arbitration with their Association in accordance with the ANLCA’s Supreme Constitution regarding the authenticity and genuiness of the BOT registered CAC certificate which the trio has been parading as board members.
The order by implications has also annulled the plaintiffs as members of ANLCA BOT member
