Police Wade Into NAGAFF, Customs Crisis

The Lagos State Police Command has waded into the crisis between the National Association of Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) and the wife of an Army General over alleged threat to lives.

The army general’s wife, Mrs Jayne Shoboiki ,and NAGAFF officials have written  petitions to the police, army and Customs authorities, alleging threat to their lives.

Mrs Shoboiki, a Customs Intelligence Officer at Tincan Island Port, Lagos,wrote a petition against the founder of NAGAFF, Dr Boniface Aniebonam, alleging threat to her life through text messages over seized goods belonging to Aniebonem.

NAGAFF, through its counsel, Mr Larry Okonkwo, also wrote a petition against Mrs Shoboiki for allegedly invading their headquarters with 13 armed soldiers and destroying properties.

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Umar Manko, who confirmed the petitions said the police was investigating the alleged threat to lives.

“We got petitions from the Army over alleged threat to the life of Mrs Shoboiki, wife to a former GOC, 81 Div., Lagos, over seized goods belonging to Chief Aniebonem. We have invited the parties for investigation,’’ Manko said.

The commissioner also said he assigned some police officers to accompany Mrs Shoboiki to NAGAFF office, adding that he was not aware that soldiers, apart from the woman’s orderly and driver, went with her.

According to NAGAFF’s petition, Mrs Shoboiki allegedly led 13 soldiers to invade its headquarters at Apapa and destroyed their property.

“We wish to state clearly that there was stampede and confusion at the national headquarters of NAGAFF, on Wednesday, August 1, at about 2:15pm, following the invasion by 13 soldiers, whose names could not be ascertained,” they stated in the petition.

—Lucky Lawal