Freight forwarders shun summons by embattled CRFFN Registrar

Apart from the organisation’s dire financial straits, the administration of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) may be contending with the additional headache of freight forwarders not putting much stock on its words.
In the latest example of the CRFFN wallowing in troubled waters, the leadership of the oldest and largest formal grouping of freight forwarders in the nation, the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), has shunned summons by the CRFFN Registrar/Chief Executive Officer, Sir Mike Jukwe, to a meeting scheduled to hold in Lagos today.
In his invitation to the various freight forwarding associations, a copy of which was sighted bySHIPS & PORTS DAILY, Jukwe stated inter alia: “Dear Presidents.

“It is with the highest sense of responsibility and humility that I invite you to a meeting to discuss issues of mutual interest on Friday, 8th March, 2013 at 11am prompt in Lagos. Please, come with your General Secretary.
“Details regarding the venue will be communicated to you in due course.”
However, in a terse reply to Jukwe’s own e-mail correspondence, titled: Re: INVITATION TO A MEETING OF ASSOCIATIONS AND CRFFN, a copy of which was sighted by SHIPS & PORTS DAILY, the ANLCA National President, Prince Olayiwola Shittu, stated inter alia:”Dear Registrar.
“Thanks for your IV.
“Regrets our inability to attend the meeting in compliance with the resolution of our Association based on outstanding issues with ICPC.”

Shittu’s e-mail to the CRFFN Registrar, it was gathered, was copied the ANLCA Board of Trustees Chairman, Chief Henry Njoku, the ANLCA Vice President, Mr. Emenike Nwokeoji; and ANLCA National Secretary, Dr. Emmanuel Ogu Oparah.
SHIPS & PORTS DAILY recalls that Jukwe recently petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and related offences Commission (ICPC) accusing the respective leadership of the ANLCA and the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) of alleged mismanagement of association funds.
Consequently, Shittu; the NAGAFF Founder, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam; and the National President, Mr. Eugene Nweke, have since contented with series of summons and visits to the ICPC Headquarters, Abuja.
The ANLCA National President, it was learnt, visited the ICPC Headquarters yet again yesterday.