The frosty leadership crisis in the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents deepened weekend when its President Hon Tony Iju Nwabunike slammed a query on his deputy, Dr Kayode Farinto. In the query letter dated August 25, 2020, Dr Farinto was asked to “explain why severe disciplinary action(s) should not be taken against him on the following grounds
(i) Writing a letter in the name of our association , to the Secretary General of the World Customs Organization, WCO, dated 03/08/020 with reference no ANLCA/WCO/VOL042/08/020 without the authority of the Association.
In the query, the President explained that the said letter to the WCO which was not authorized by the National body was in total violation of section 3(a), (d) and (e) of our Constitution as ammended. And that “whereas sub section 2(c) under section 7 of our constitution provides that you are the Chairman of the National Disciplinary Committee, you are hereby recused from this function as you cannot be a judge in your case in line with the principle of ” Nemo Judex In Causa Sha”, the query further explained.
But in his reply, Dr Kayode Farinto, in a letter dated August 27th insisted he acted in the overall interest of ANLCA in accordance with section 3 sub section (a) and (b) which deals with the aims and objectives of the Association. Said Farinto: ” It will interest you to know that at the time of writing the letter to the WCO, your demeanor has shown that you have compromised your position as President to defend the interest of Licensed Customs Agents. He blamed Hon Tony Iju Nwabunike for failing in his duties as National President and likened his conduct to that of Emperor Nero who fled when Rome was burning. He accused the National President of betraying members of the Association in critical situations where his actions clearly showed he was working for other interests.
It would be recalled that Dr Kayode Farinto had written to the WCO Secretary General, listing various trade facilitation infractions incurred by the Nigeria Customs Service. He had asked for the sack of the Comptroller General of Customs Col Hameed Ali, citing gross incompetence on the part of the Customs Chief.