Automobile Dealers Association threatens Nigerian Customs with N10bn Suit, for Sealing their Business Premises

A group of Automobile dealers in Lagos State, have threatened to drag the Nigerian Customs Service to court, over the unlawful sealing of their business premises.

On September 30, officers of the Nigerian Customs Service invaded and sealed up the shops of the dealers in Lagos, without any official notice.

Addressing a press conference last Thursday, Counsel to the Automobile dealers, Monday Ubani, noted that his clients have no other option but to proceed to court, since the Custom authorities have ignored their demand to unlock their offices.

Ubani maintained that, the action of the Nigeria Customs Service is a demonstration of gross irresponsibility, unprecedented impunity, and abuse of power.

According to him, all the cars in his clients’ business premises were duly cleared, and appropriate duties paid to the Federal Government.

Ubani further disclosed that, a letter has been written to the Controller

General of the Nigerian Customs, giving him 14 days to unseal all automobile business premises, and pay a compensation of N10 billion to the automobile dealers.

"This action of the Nigeria Customs Service, does not in any way portray the Nigerian Customs in a good image, but has rather reduced it into a laughing stock among members of international community, who are watching this arbitrary exercise of power. Does it not expose the deficiency, in the Nigerian Customs Service?

"It is most appalling that these hardworking Nigerian Citizens are made to pay for it, albeit in a rather inconsiderate and lawless manner. Let’s further assume that the action of the Nigerian Customs is because of improperly cleared vehicles or smuggled vehicles, is the Nigeria Customs by their action, saying that all the vehicles in those car shops were affected, warranting the sealing up of their business premises?

"Automobile Dealers are responsible Nigerian citizens and business men, who have

families to feed and cater for. Their only means of survival, is their car business. It is unimaginable that the Nigerian Customs did not consider their survival, and the severe hardship their arbitrary action will cause them and their families.

"Since the 30th day of September, 2019 when their business premises were arbitrarily sealed up, these men and women have been unable to transact any business, and some customers that bought vehicles from them who were yet to take delivery of the vehicles before the sealing up, have till today, not been able to use the vehicles they had since paid for, and most of them are now demanding the refund of their money.

"Nigeria is not a lawless country, rather it is a country governed by laws, and we must all operate under the law. No law in our law books, including the Customs & Excise Management Act, empowers the Custom officers to take the steps they have taken in the manner they have taken it.

"The action of the Nigerian Customs is not only lawless, but very oppressive. The moment when the 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.

“We have therefore, written to the Controller General of the Nigerian Customs Service, giving him 14 days from the day he receives the letter to unseal all the business premises of Automobile Dealers in Lagos State, to enable them carry out their lawful businesses as Nigerian citizens.

"We have also, by the same letter, given him a period of 30 days from the date he receives the letter to pay a compensation of N10 billion to the Automobile Dealers in Lagos State, for the severe hardship, suffering, embarrassment, loss of business, physical, mental and psychological torture and trauma his arbitrary, lawless, and inconsiderate action has caused these men and women and their families; failing which, we shall be left with no other option but to seek redress through a competent court of law", the Lawyer stated.

Also speaking at the press briefing, Morgan Ogbede, the President of the Automobile Dealer’s Friends Association in Lagos, said the businessmen were tired of the alleged extortion, harassment, and intimidation they had suffered in the hands of Customs officials, for several years.

The Automobile Dealers, staged a protest at the press conference.