Just In : Court orders Customs to pay N500million for unlawful seizure of car dealerships
The Federal High Court has directed the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) to pay N500 million in damages for arbitrarily sealing hundreds of car dealerships in Lagos since September 2019.
Justice A. O. Awogboro ruled that the NCS unlawfully invaded and locked up the car marts of members of the Auto Dealers on claims that the vehicles were smuggled or under-assessed, which were abandoned later.
The judge held that sealing the dealerships was unjustified as their vehicles were already cleared by customs officers at the ports. She also prohibited the agency from further raids on dealers over improper assessment, as long as duty was already paid based on NCS’s valuation.
Additionally, the court granted a perpetual injunction restraining the agency from interrupting vehicular movement to demand fresh payment after initial clearance.
The human rights lawyer Dr. Monday Ubani, who represented the Association , commended the landmark judgement and condemned the impunity of government agencies against citizens. He stated that the ruling demonstrates the courage required of the judiciary to end executive excesses and arbitrary actions detrimental to business interests.
The N500 million fine serves as a stern warning to the Customs Service – or any other government body – against trampling on people’s rights or deploying coercive enforcement without due process. With more uprightness among judicial officers, Nigeria can entrench accountability in governance and the rule of law.
Sometime in September, 2019 some officers of the Nigerian Custom Service in their characteristic manner invaded and sealed several car shops all over the country citing the reason that those cars were either smuggled or under- assessed during clearance at the ports.
The Registered Trustees of Auto Dealers in Lagos felt that they have had enough of Custom’s harassment, illegality, extortion, and therefore briefed the law firm of Dr Monday Ubani to seek legal redress on their behalf.
