FG URGED TO CALL MILITARY TO ORDER OVER UNLAWFUL INTERVENTION IN ANLCA MMAC CRISIS

Legal representatives of Mr. Bola Ashiru Balogun, the Chairman of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, Murtala Muhammed Airport Chapter, have called on the Federal Government to urgently intervene and direct the military to withdraw its personnel from the Association’s Secretariat at MMAC, Ikeja.

In a statement issued on Friday, the law firm of Goddy O. Osuyi, Aiyewunmi & Co. said the crisis rocking the ANLCA MMAC is a purely civil matter that has already been settled by courts of competent jurisdiction.

According to the firm, the Federal High Court in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/758/2022 and the Court of Appeal in Appeal No. CA/L/1084/2023 both affirmed Mr. Bola Ashiru Balogun as the legitimate Chairman of the Chapter. The lawyers emphasized that both judgments remain valid, subsisting, and binding on all parties.

The firm expressed concern that despite these clear court pronouncements, some members who lost in court have allegedly resorted to using armed military personnel to forcefully take over the Secretariat and install another person as Chairman.

Describing the development as “a dangerous abuse of state power,” the lawyers argued that it is unconstitutional and unlawful for the military to be dragged into a civil dispute or used as private enforcers by aggrieved individuals. They were reminded that the constitutional role of the military is to defend the nation and maintain territorial integrity, not to interfere in matters already decided by the courts.

The legal team is therefore calling on the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, order the immediate withdrawal of all military personnel from the ANLCA MMAC Secretariat and to ensure that all security agencies respect the rule of law and the subsisting court judgments.

They warned that failure to do so will leave them with no option but to commence contempt proceedings against the officers involved for violating court orders and for gross abuse of office.

The firm expressed confidence that the Federal Government will act swiftly to uphold the integrity of the judiciary and prevent the military from being drawn into avoidable civil conflicts.