NAGAFF Compliance team took a swipe at Umeadi over alleged witch-hunt of Clarion terminal  

The Chairman of the 100 percent Compliance team of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) Ibrahim Tanko has taken a swipe at the KLT Chapter Chairman of the association, Emmanuel Umeadi over allegation that the picketing of Clarion bonded terminal was carried out in bad faith to witch hunt the terminal.

Umeadi had accused the Compliance team of high handedness and usurpation of the office of National president of NAGAFF following the picketing of Clarion bonded terminal by the team on Monday over alleged missing 19 containers and withholding of 14 vehicles of their member.

According to Umeadi, the KLT Chapter oversight function is extended to Clarion, stating that allegation against the operators of the bonded terminal is likened to “giving a dog a bad name in order to hang it”.

“The KLT Chapter of NAGAFF wishes to disabuse the minds of the freight forwarding community of this image tarnishing allegation, which in the actual sense, has no modicum of truth attached to it.

“The claim that 19 containers are missing from the terminal is nothing but mere subterfuge, as there is no atom of truth in the claim,”

But briefing journalists in Lagos on Wednesday, Tanko explained that contrary to claims by Umeadi the Clarion bonded terminal is not under the supervision of KLT but Tin Can Customs.

He said this was the reason why the Tin Can Controller intervened calling for a stay of action with a promise to look into their demands and resolve the dispute.

According to him, the Controller of the command, Comptroller Olakunle Oloyede

has promised to prevail on the terminal operator to release the seized vehicles and made the owner of the facility account for the 19 disputed containers.

“The Founder of NAGAFF, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, the National President of NAGAFF, and myself held a meeting with the CAC, Tin Can today (April 6th) where he asked us to shelve the picketing of the terminal.

“He promised to look into the matter and assured us that the seized vehicles will be released and the issue of the 19 containers revisited,” he said.

He also stated that contrary to the false claims of Emmanuel Umeadi, Dr Aniebonam, the NAGAFF Founder and the National President are aware of the development.

“If they were not aware, why did the two, including myself, hold a peace meeting with Tin Can CAC? he asked.

Tanko further disclosed that the Port Police, Customs High Command in Abuja and Tin Can Customs command are all aware of the incident.