By Bon Peters
PORT HARCOURT/Nigeria: The fragile peace recently enjoyed by the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) is under threat, as Chief Dennis Okwu, a prominent member of the association, has alleged a plot by a group he describes as “The Nine Billionaires” to undermine his candidacy in the upcoming ANLCA Board of Trustees (BoT) election scheduled for September 2024. Okwu claims that these influential figures are working behind the scenes to block his path to the board in favor of their own interests.
In an interview with select journalists in his Port Harcourt office on Tuesday, Okwu expressed disbelief that, despite paying the mandatory N1.5 million for the expression of interest form, he is being systematically sidelined from the electoral process. He alleges that ANLCA has been hijacked by a single family, casting a shadow over the association’s leadership.
“Let me tell you, some people feel they are the only ones that are supposed to be in ANLCA,” Okwu lamented. “During the last NECOM election, many things went wrong, but because we wanted ANLCA to speak with one voice, we didn’t go to court to challenge the election. I had 1,000 reasons to go to court, but I chose peace. Instead of appreciation, what we see now is an ANLCA hijacked by one family.”
Okwu specifically called out ANLCA National President Emenike Nwokeoji, questioning his achievements during his tenure. He accused Nwokeoji of being a puppet controlled by Chief Ernest Elochukwu and his family, who Okwu claims have taken over the association.
Okwu recounted how he purchased his form early to contest the election, only to face what he described as a deliberate attempt to disenfranchise him. According to him, a member of the ANLCA Electoral Committee (ASECO) in Port Harcourt refused to give him the form, insisting he collect it from Lagos, even though the form was available in Port Harcourt.
To counter this, Okwu wrote a letter to the ASECO chairman and copied the ANLCA National President, explaining the potential delay in submitting his form. He maintains that the letter was received before the deadline and challenges anyone to deny this. Despite his efforts, ASECO refused to accept his completed form, citing late submission.
Okwu, the Chairman and CEO of Sweet Apple Nigeria Limited, and a former ANLCA Chapter Chairman for the Port Harcourt Area 1 Customs Command, revealed that his pleas for consideration were ignored, prompting him to take legal action. He questioned why Chief Elochukwu would appoint his younger brother, Obiora Elochukwu, who is new to the freight forwarding business, to oversee such a critical election. Okwu believes this move is part of a larger scheme to install certain individuals, including Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha, Chief Ernest Elochukwu, Mr. Dennis Okafor, and Alhaji Dayo Azeez, onto the board—individuals who have held these positions since 2014.
Okwu further demanded that Chief Ernest Elochukwu and his allies clarify when their tenure as BoT members will expire, noting that the constitution limits members to two terms of six years each. He warned that any attempt to extend their stay beyond this period would trigger further litigation.
“Who is afraid of Chief Dennis Okwu?” he asked rhetorically. “Unless the ANLCA constitution is strictly followed, the association may be heading back to the divisive days of Elochukwu’s tenure as National President, when ANLCA had more than five factions.”
Okwu concluded by urging relevant authorities and stakeholders to ensure a level playing field in the upcoming election, emphasizing that no individual or group should intimidate others into submission.
When contacted by our correspondent, ANLCA National President Emenike Nwokeoji declined to comment, stating that the matter is already in court. “As a journalist, you should know that once an issue is in court, it would amount to subjudice if I comment on it,” Nwokeoji said. “When I get to the court, I will tell them what I know about the issue.”
ASECO Chairman Obiora Elochukwu also refrained from commenting, emphasizing that the outcome of the court case would determine the next steps. “This is a law-abiding association. Whatever the court decides, we will abide by it,” he said. “But to say the least, he [Okwu] doesn’t have any legal standing to determine if I am qualified or not to be the ASECO chairman. His allegations are based on sentiment and imagination.”
The ANLCA BoT election in September 2024 is now in limbo, with the outcome of the court case likely to have significant implications for the future of the association.
