Group sues Customs over restriction of petroleum products in Ogun communities

A group, All Youths Re-Oriented Initiative (AYRIN), has dragged the Nigeria Customs Service Board and the Comptroller- General of Nigeria Customs Service to court over a directive against movement of fuel and petroleum products in communities close to the borders across the country.

We reports that the defendants in the suit are the Nigeria Customs Service Board and the Comptroller- General of Nigeria Customs Service.

The suit was filled at the Federal High Court in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The claimants, in the suit numbered FHC/AB/CS/87/23 filed by their counsel, Izunya Izunya and co, are asking the court to decide whether it is not discriminatory, illegal and unconstitutional for Nigerians who reside in communities of any distance from Nigerian border to be deprived of buying, selling or having access to petroleum products.

The plaintiffs, in the suit filled on behalf of themselves and other Nigerians residing in border communities across the country, are also asking the court to decide: “Whether the circular issued by the 1st & 2nd defendant preventing petrol tankers from dispensing fuel in communities in Nigeria within twenty (20) kilometers from Nigeria border is not illegal, unconstitutional and contrary to section 42 and 43 of 1999 constitution of Nigeria (as amended)

“Whether the prevention of fuel from entering 20 kilometers within boarder area has not caused untold economic, social and psychological pain, hardship and suffering on Nigerians residing within border area and any other order or further orders as the Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances.”

The plaintiffs are also seeking a declaration by the court that the circular No.027 issued by the 1st and 2nd defendant dated 6th day of September 2019 preventing petrol tankers from taking fuel to filling stations, selling and buying fuel within twenty kilometers from Nigeria Borders with other countries, is illegal, unconstitutional, null and void.

The group argued that such circular is contrary to section 1 (1) & (3) and section 42 of the 1999 constitution of Nigeria (as Amended), stressing that the defendants have no justification under any law to issue such circular.

We reports that the suit was supported with an affidavit by Oguntoyinbo Olufemi Ajadi, who is the President of the group.

Ajadi in the affidavit made available to us on Sunday stated that he has the consent of all members of the group to depose to the affidavit at the court.

He added that the group has members cut across the affected areas in Ogun State and beyond.

Some of the affected areas in Ogun State according to him are; llaro, Afon, Owode-idiroko, Ajegunle Ajilete, Wasimi-Okuta, Iwoye, Okeagbede, Idofa and Imeko.

He said, “The filing of this suit is within the aims and objectives of the plaintiff as contained in exhibit B of paragraph 3 above; that the plaintiff has members within all areas affected by the act of the defendants and outside Ogun State and that the members of the plaintiff are not in one location but spread across different local governments, villages, towns and cities in Ogun State including but not limited to llaro, Afon, Owode-idiroko, Ajegunle Ajilete, Wasimi-Okuta, Iwoye, Okeagbede, Idofa, Imeko etc.”