Com. Bola Ashiru Balogun
The Federal High Court in Lagos has nullified the August 2023 National Executive Committee election of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) over the participation of two individuals claiming to be chairmen of the association’s Murtala Mohammed International Airport Chapter.
Justice A. Lewis-Allagoa, who delivered the judgment on Thursday, October 8, 2026, held that the election violated the association’s constitution, which does not permit two persons to occupy the same chairmanship position simultaneously.
The suit, marked FHC/L/CS/2251/2025, was instituted by Chief Bola Asiru Balogun, who identified himself as the chairman of ANLCA’s Murtala Mohammed International Airport Chapter.
The defendants were the Incorporated Trustees of ANLCA, the association’s Board of Trustees, National Executive Committee, National Executive Council and the Registrar-General of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
In the suit, the Plaintiff prays for the following reliefs: “a declaration that the Constitution of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents as Amended 2000 is legally binding over the entire members and there can only be one Chairman for each Chapter of the Association.
“A declaration that the participation of the duo of Mr. Temitope Akindele and Mr. Bamgbala Abayomi Adejare Adewusi, both acting as the Chairman of the same Chapter of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents Murtala Mohammed international Airport Chapter in the National Executive Committee Election of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents is illegal, unlawful, null, void and of no effect whatsoever
“A declaration nullifying the result of the National Executive Committee’s election of August 2023 by virtue of the participation of the duo of Mr. Temitope Akindele and Mr. Bamgbala Abayomi Adejare Adewusi, both purporting to be acting as the Chairmen of the same Chapter of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents Murtala Mohammed International Airport as same is illegal, unlawful, null, void and of no effec! whatsoever
“A declaration nullifying the inauguration of the National Executive Committee by virtue of the participation of the duo of Mr. Temitope Akindele and Mr. Bamgbala Abayomi Adejare Adewusi in the National Executive Committee election of August 2023, both purporting to be acting as the Chairmen of the same Chapter of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents Murtala. Mohammed International Airport as same is illegal, unlawful, null, void and of no effect whatsoever
“A declaration nullifying and rendering null and void the election for the National Executive Committee Members of August 2023 by virtue of the participation of Mr. Temitope Akindele and Mr. Bamgbala Abayomi Adejare Adewusi the duo acting as the Chairman of the same Chapter of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents Murtala Mohammed International Airport.
“A declaration that the entire decisions, resolutions, proceedings, aclions, communique, and such other incidental/alied matters reached by National Executive Committee Members of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, by virtue of the participation of Mr. Temitope Akindele and Mr. Bamgbala Abayomi Adejare Adewusi, the duo acting as Chairman of the same chapter of Association of Nigerian License Custom Agents of Murtala Mohammed International Airport, in the election of August 2023 are ultra vires, null, void and of no effect whatsoever
“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the entire members of the 1st – 4th respondents from parading, discharging, acting, exercising. functioning in any capacity related or incidental to the 1st-4th respondents untill the plaintiff is recognize, acknowledge as the Executive Chairman of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents Murtala Mohammed International Airport Chapter and an Order directing the Incorporated Trustees and/or Board of Trustees of The Association Of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents to appoint, inaugurate and/or convene members into the Association Election Commission (ASECO) for the conduct of new elections into the National Executive Committee of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents immediately, without further delay.
“An order directing the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to cease further acceptance of memorandum, instructions and applications from the Incorporated Trustees and/or Members of the Board of Trustees until another election into the office of the National Executive Committee Members have fully complied by the judgment of this Honourable Court and Affidavit of Compliance is deposed thereto before this Honourable Court.
“An order directing the 1st – 3rd respondents to jointly and/or severally pay the cost of Ten Million Naira (N10, 000, 000. 00} as cost Of litigation”.
The defendants, in response to the suit filed a Preliminary objection, as well as a counter affidavit.
The defendants in their preliminary objection argued that Balogun was no longer a member of the association because his company, Sofotopy Nigeria Limited, had been struck off the CAC register and his operating licence suspended.
In resolving the dispute, Justice Lewis-Allagoa rejected the defendants’ preliminary objection challenging Balogun’s legal standing to institute the suit.
The judge held that evidence before the court showed that the Balogun’s company had been reinstated following an order made by Justice E.U. Akpan of the Federal High Court on November 3, 2025.
The judge also noted that the CAC, in a letter dated December 17, 2025, confirmed that Sofotopy Nigeria Limited, with registration number RC 88928, was active.
Consequently, the judge ruled that Balogun had the requisite legal standing to pursue the action.
On the substantive dispute, the judge relied on Section 5 of the ANLCA Constitution, as amended in 2000, which provides for the composition of the association’s National Executive Council, including chapter chairmen.
Justice Lewis-Allagoa held that the provision did not support two persons simultaneously occupying the chairmanship of the same chapter.
The judge also relied on an earlier judgment of Justice Peter O Lifu, delivered on May 5, 2023, which recognised Balogun as chairman of the airport chapter and disqualified Adewusi from the position.
The court held that the earlier judgment remained binding and ought to have been obeyed when the August 2023 election was conducted.
In the final analysis, Justice Lewis-Allagoa resolved all the questions raised in the originating summons in Balogun’s favour, as well granted all the reliefs sought by him.