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By Steve Agbota
Controversy has continued to trail the recent appointment of Mr. Onyekachi Kingsley as the substantive Registrar of Council for Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), which oversees the affairs and activities of freight forwarding profession in the maritime industry.
Sunday Sun gathered that four prominent freight forwarding associations instituted a lawsuit against the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, over his failure to follow due process in the appointment of the registrar.
Speaking during a joint press briefing in Lagos yesterday, the four associations, which include the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), Association of Registered Freight Forwarders (AREFFN), and National Air Freight Forwarders and Consolidators (NAFFAC), kicked against the appointment as they claimed it violated due process.
However, ANLCA President, Emenike Nwokeoji, recounted the sequence of events, which led to the controversial appointment.
His words: “The registrar position was advertised in 2023 and a lot of people applied. Applicants were shortlisted and scheduled for an interview in Abuja, which they attended. However, the interview did not hold. To our surprise, the person appointed as Registrar was not even among those who applied.
“When the announcement was made, we sought clarity but received no satisfactory answers. The process did not follow what the law stipulates for appointing a registrar. Consequently, we decided to seek judicial clarification.”
He pointed out that the importance of foundational integrity in appointments of the Council’s Registrar, saying every structure starts with its foundation and if the foundation is weak or faulty, the end product will also be faulty.
“That is why we are in court to ensure that the appointment followed the laiddown process. To our understanding, it did not,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, Yinka Bakare, President of NAFFAC, said that the associations were not opposed to Mr. Onyekachi or his affiliation with the National Association of Government-Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), adding that the concern of the associations is not about who was appointed or their background but about the process and procedure of the appointment.
“We are seeking an interpretation of the law to ensure due process was followed. This is not against any individual or organization but about upholding the integrity of the system,” he explained.
Meanwhile, the four associations collectively emphasized their unity in pursuing legal redress to address what they described as a procedural breach. They also reassured stakeholders that the matter is now before the courts, limiting further public commentary on the case.
The associations underscored their commitment to upholding the integrity of the CRFFN and ensuring transparency in the appointment process for key positions within the Council.
