AUTOMOBILE DEALERS THREATEN SHOWDOWN WITH NIGERIAN CUSTOMS OVER SEALING OF BUSINESS PREMISES
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| Men of the Nigerian Customs Service. |
A group
of Auto-mobile dealers in Lagos State have threatened to drag the Nigerian
Customs Service, NIS, to court over the unlawful sealing of their business
premises.
In a
letter to the Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service, through the
law firm of Ubani & Co, the group condemned the September 30, 2019 raid and
sealing of their offices by customs officers saying that the action of the
Agency was a demonstration of gross irresponsibility, unprecedented impunity
and abuse of power.
They
maintained that all the cars in their business premises were duly cleared and
appropriate duties paid to the federal government.
The group
in the letter which was also forward to the Senate President, Speaker of House
of Representatives and Attorney General of the Federation, also warned that if
their business premises were not opened in the next 14 days with a compensation
of N10 billion for businesses loss during the period of closure, they would have
no other option but to approach the court for redress.
Part of
the letter which also serves as a pre-action notice reads:
"We
must state here with all sense of responsibility and patriotism that the action
of Nigeria custom officers in this regard is a demonstration of gross
irresponsibility, unprecedented impunity and abuse of power.
"Though the
Nigerian Customs & Excise Management Act gives you the power
to examine, mark, seal and take account of any goods… In this case,
you did not examine, mark, seal and take account of the particular vehicles
identified as not being properly cleared, but rather sealed up the entire
premises without any form of examination or inspection of papers.
“This
very act of yours has no protection under the Act, but smacks of impunity,
illegality and flagrant abuse of executive power.
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| Mr. Monday Ubani, Principal Partner, Ubani & Co. |
"No
law under our law books, including the Customs &
Excise Management Act, empowers you to take the steps you have
taken in the manner you have taken it.
"The
action of the Nigerian Customs is not only lawless but very oppressive. The
moment when Nigerian Government agencies elevate the pursuit of
revenue above the right and welfare of the citizens, Nigeria is doomed, but God
forbid that things degenerate to that level.
"Take
notice therefore that you have 14 days from the day you receive this
letter to unseal all our Client’s members’ business premises to enable
them carry out their lawful businesses as Nigerian citizens.
"Take
further notice that you have a period of 30 days from the date you receive
this letter to pay a compensation of N10 billion to our Clients for the
severe hardship, suffering, embarrassment, loss of
business, physical, mental and psychological torture and trauma your
arbitrary, lawless and inconsiderate action has caused our clients and their
families failing which our Client shall be left with no other option
than to seek redress through a competent court of law."
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