Illegal detention: Shipping firm sues Customs for N50m
A Shipping firm, Afriglobe Shipping Lines Ltd, has dragged the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) before the Lagos Federal High Court for N50m over an illegal detention of its Managing Director, Mr. Christian Ukata.
The company had filed a suit through its law firm, Charles Ugwuanyi Chamber, and according to the court papers, Mr Ukata was wrongfully detained by NCS officials attached to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, sometime in November 2015, for being in possession of foreign exchange which he had voluntarily declared at the NCS desk.
The firm also said that: in November 2015, it was contracted by Aerodocs Inc. USA to clear its cargo at Chad and deliver same to Millicom, Chad, at an agreed cost of $46,731. The payment, according to the firm, was subsequently made through Access Bank Plc.
However, after confirming the arrival of the cargo at Ndjamena Airport, the firm stated that it withdrew $42,200 from the amount paid into its Access Bank Plc account and detailed its Managing Director, Mr. Christian Ukata to travel to Ndjamena via Duala Airport for the purpose of clearing and delivery of the cargo.
Mr. Ukata, through the suit filed before Justice Anka, also averred that he made arrangement to travel on November 15, 2016 with the view of clearing the cargo on November 16 so as to avoid incurring demurrage.
On getting to the Lagos Airport, the firm said Mr. Ukata went through all the departure formalities including declaring the $42,200 with him before two NCS officials, one Mrs. Oshilaja and Mr. K.S Ugboaja.
