Nation
Court Stops FG From Taking Further Actions On e-Customs
A Federal High Court in Abuja has restrained the Federal Government from enforcing or giving effect to the Customs Modernisation Project otherwise known as e-Customs allegedly executed by its agents on May 30, 2022.
The agents who allegedly executed the disputed concession project are the Nigerian Customs Service, Trade Modernisation Project Limited, Huawei Technologies Company Nigeria Limited, and African Finance Corporation.
The court also issued an order of interim injunction against the Federal Government or its agents acting through the Federal Executive Council from retrospectively ratifying the decisions to concession the e-Customs project to Trade Modernisation Project Limited, Huawei Technologies Company Limited, and African Finance Corporation.
The restraining order issued last Friday by Justice Inyang Ekwo shall last till the hearing and the determination of a suit brought against the Federal Government by two aggrieved companies.
The two aggrieved companies are E-Customs HC Project Limited and Bionica Technologies (West Africa) Limited which jointly challenged the alleged unlawful and fraudulent concession of the e-customs project to African Finance Corporation.
Counsel to the two aggrieved companies, Anone Usman had, on behalf of the two plaintiffs, argued an ex-parte application in which he prayed the Federal High Court for interim orders against the defendants to protect the interest of his clients.
Justice Inyang Ekwo while ruling on the ex-parte application granted the prayers of the plaintiffs having placed sufficient evidence of interest in the concession project.
The Judge also granted permission to the aggrieved companies to serve a Writ of Summons and all other processes on the African Finance Corporation at its head office, located in Ikoyi, Lagos through DHL courier services.
Defendants in the suit are the Federal Government of Nigeria, Attorney-General of the Federation, Finance Minister, Infrastructure Regulatory Concession Commission, Nigeria Customs Service, Trade Modernisation Project Limited, Huawei Technologies Limited, African Finance Corporation, and Bergman Security Consultant and Supply as 1st to 9th defendants respectively.
Justice Ekwo subsequently fixed June 28 for hearing in the matter.
The two plaintiffs had in their statement of claims narrated how they proposed to carry out the Customs Modernisation Project through several government officials for the benefit of the Nigerian Customs Service.
They claimed that after a series of meetings and negotiations with some of the defendants, President Muhammudu Buhari granted anticipatory approval for the e- customs Project
According to them, on September 2, 2020, the Minister of Finance presented a memo with the number EC2020/153 to the Federal Executive Council, the highest decision-making body of the Federal Government, and secured approval for the two plaintiffs to be granted the award of the concession.
The plaintiffs said that trouble started when the Nigeria Customs Service unilaterally reviewed the Federal Executive Council approval and imposed other conditions among which are shareholding formulae and governance structure on them.
They said further that the power of the Nigeria Customs Service to unilaterally review FEC approval was protested and that the Comptroller General of the agency stood his ground.
They said they were surprised to read in the news that the Nigeria Customs Service had executed a concession agreement with the Trade Modernisation Project on May 30, 2022, with Huawei Technologies Company and African Finance Corporation in total breach of the Concession Agreement vetted by the AGF in conjunction with the Minister of Finance.
They said that the Trade Modernisation Project Limited was incorporated in April 2022 at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) with one Alhaji Saleh Ahmadu a close friend of the Comptroller General as the chairman.
The plaintiff stated that the new company, having been just incorporated in April 2022 could not have obtained and did not obtain the full business case compliance certificate from the Infrastructure Regulatory Concession Commission (IRCC) and the approval of the Federal Executive Council to carry out the e- custom project.
They, therefore, asked the court to make a declaration that the decisions of the Federal Government and its agent to enter into a concession agreement with Trade Modernisation Project Limited, Huawei Technologies Company and African Finance Corporation in respect of the e-customs project is illegal, null and void, having been made in gross violation of Section 2 of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission Act 2005.
They also asked the court to declare that e-Customs HC Project Limited is the approved and rightful concessionaire for the e-customs project as approved by the Federal Executive Council at its meeting of September 2, 2020, and in line with Section 2 of the Infrastructure Regulatory Concession Commission Act.
They applied for an order of the court directing the Federal Government through AGF, Finance Minister, IRCC, and Customs to consulate the e- custom project with the 1st plaintiff, (E-Customs Project Limited) as approved by FEC in its September 2020 meeting.
Besides, the two plaintiffs asked the court to compel the defendants to pay them a sum of N200m as the cost of litigation.
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has appealed to the Federal Government to urgently direct the Central Bank of Nigeria to drastically reduce interest rates on industrial loans.
Speaking at the 10th Annual General Meeting of Kwara/Kogi axis of the Association held in Ilorin, Kwara State, yesterday, the outgone chairman, Ramon Bioku, lamented the present interest rate on business loans given to its members by banks
He stated the rate should be further reduced to one per cent.
The theme of the meeting was “Tackling the Challenges of Manufacturing Sector: A Win-Win for Government and Local Manufacturers.
“The CBN should also direct DMBs (Commercial Banks) to reduce interest rates on industrial loans. The Interest rates charged on Industrial Loans and other loans released as COVID-19 palliatives should be significantly reduced further to one per cent,” Bioku said.
He also urged the Bank of industry to approve and urgently roll out further reductions in its lending rates to industries, asking the CBN to wave many conditions for its foreign exchange policies to local manufacturers.
“CBN should widen the window of Foreign Exchange to Local Industries”, he said.
In his speech, read by the state commissioner for Business, Innovation and Technology, Damilola Yusuf Adelodun, Kwara State Governor declared the state’s continual support for MAN to boost the economy of the state.
The governor promised that the state government would continue to create a conducive environment for the manufacturers in the state.
The member representing Ningi/Warji Federal Constituency of Bauchi State in the House of Representatives, Adamu Hashimu Ranga, narrowly escaped being mobbed by angry youths who allegedly attacked his convoy in Ningi.
The Tide’s source reports that Ranga, who was elected in 2023 under the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had attended the burial of the late Emir of Ningi, Muhammadu Yunusa Danyaya, last Sunday along with other prominent figures from the Ningi Emirate Council.
However, during the event, some youths of his constituency expressed their displeasure with his representation, accusing him of neglecting them since his election and relocation to Abuja.
The youths began chanting “Ba mu yi, ba mu yi” in Hausa, which translates to ‘We don’t want you’, while throwing sand and stones at the lawmaker as he was leaving the late Emir’s palace around 5:42 pm.
The Tide’s source gathered that all efforts to calm the youths proved futile as the attack continued. The attack escalated as the lawmaker approached his vehicle, resulting in severe damage to the car, with the windows, windscreen and rear mirrors shattered.
An eyewitness, in a phone interview with newsmen, described the incident as unfortunate.
He said, “I came out of the palace deeply saddened by the Emir’s demise, only to see youths throwing sand and stones at a car. When I moved closer, I realised it was our representative being attacked.”
He added that the youths had mobilised upon seeing the lawmaker, positioning themselves near his car and starting the attack as soon as he was leaving the palace.
It was further gathered that it took the intervention of security operatives for the lawmaker to be driven away from the scene.
Efforts to reach the Rep, Adamu Hashim Ranga, for comments were unsuccessful as at the time of writing this report.
Recall that the lawmaker’s constituents had also attempted to recall him from the National Assembly. It took the intervention of the late Emir of Ningi and others for them to stop collecting signatures to that effect.
An Omuma-based philanthropist in Rivers State, Chief Obed Ndukwu has been bestowed with an award of Eminent Peace Ambassador by the International Association of World Peace Advocates.
Chief Ndukwu is the Och. Ala Umunwaka and Girigiri Bu Ugwu Eze 1 of Omuma.
Speaking during the presentation of the award, Amb. George Ojade explained that the Award of Eminent Peace Ambassador presented to a traditional ruler, is an appointment for him to continue his humanitarian services to his people and foster peace in the global community and among the traditional council in the society.
Also speaking, Dr. Emeka Okanu, who represented the world peace spokesperson of the association, Emmanuel Nkweke, said the prestigious title was bestowed upon Chief Ndukwu in recognition of his unwavering commitment to promoting peace and harmony both locally and internationally. “As a well-respected figure in his community and beyond, he has dedicated his life to fostering understanding and cooperation among diverse groups,” he said.
During the ceremony, Chief Ndukwu seized the opportunity to address the youths, emphasising the importance of peaceful protests and dialogue in addressing global issues.
He encouraged the younger generation to come together under one umbrella to work towards positive change, rather than resorting to violence or divisiveness.
Dr Okanu also commended Chief Ndukwu for his good works and recognition of the global system.
“His Eminence Chief Ndukwu’s words of wisdom and call for unity have resonated with many, inspiring hope and optimism for a brighter future. As a global diplomat and peace ambassador, he continues to lead by example, demonstrating the power of compassion, empathy, and cooperation in building a more harmonious world,” he said.
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