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Sealed Marts: Car Dealers Demand N10bn, LCCI Berates Customs

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Sealed Marts: Car Dealers Demand N10bn, LCCI Berates Customs

An association of car dealers in Lagos State has asked the Nigeria Customs Service to immediately open their sealed car marts and pay them N10bn compensation within 30 days or be ready to face court action.

The NCS had on September 29 commenced the sealing off of car marts across the nation on suspicion that the outlets had smuggled vehicles.

The car dealers, who described the action in September as illegal, made the N10bn demand in a pre-action letter written to the Comptroller General of customs by their lawyer, Mr Monday Ubani.

The letter, copies of which were sent to the Senate President, Speaker of House of Representatives and the Attorney General of the Federation, read, “We must state here with all sense of responsibility and patriotism that the action of the Nigeria Customs officers in this regard is a demonstration of gross irresponsibility, unprecedented impunity and abuse of power.

“Though the Nigeria Customs and Excise Management Act gives you the power to examine, mark, seal and take account of any goods; in this case, you did not examine, mark, seal and take account of the particular vehicles identified as not being properly cleared, but rather sealed the entire premises without any form of examination or inspection of papers.

“Take notice, therefore, that you have 14 days from the day you receive this letter to unseal all our clients members’ business premises to enable them carry out their lawful businesses as Nigerian citizens.”

It added, “Take further notice that you have a period of 30 days from the date you receive this letter to pay a compensation of N10bn to our clients for the severe hardship, suffering, embarrassment, loss of business, physical, mental and psychological torture and trauma your arbitrary, lawless and inconsiderate action has caused our clients and their families, failing which our client shall be left with no other option but to seek redress through a competent court of law.”

Meanwhile, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry has come up hard against the Nigeria Customs Service over the shut car marts.

In the statement signed on Sunday by its Director General, Mr Muda Yusuf, LCCI stated, “Investors should not be treated as culpable when infractions have not been proven against them. Verification processes should be done with minimal disruptions to the operations of companies.”

Yusuf called for an independent dispute resolution framework to take decisions on disputes arising from valuation and classification of consignments.

He observed that it was frustrating seeking redress on valuation under the current arrangement because the NCS was the same institution that would adjudicate in disputes between importers and Customs.

“It is not in consonance with the principles of natural justice. It is unfair for the NCS to be a judge in its own case,” he stated.

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Tinubu Will Resolve Generational Grievances, Jimoh Ibrahim Tells UN

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Nigeria’s ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations, Jimoh Ibrahim, has said President Bola Tinubu remains committed to resolving long-standing grievances driving insecurity across the country.

Speaking in New York on Monday while presenting his letter of credence to the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, Ibrahim conveyed Tinubu’s message, underscoring Nigeria’s resolve to confront both domestic and global security challenges.

Ibrahim noted that Nigeria would continue to mobilise support to tackle insecurity in the Sahel and West African sub-region.

He added that the country remains committed to advancing peace-building efforts across the continent.

On the economy, Ibrahim highlighted key reforms by the Tinubu administration, including fuel subsidy removal and exchange rate unification.

The ambassador said tighter monetary policies are also being implemented to curb inflation.

According to him, early indicators show progress, with improvements in debt sustainability and easing inflationary pressures.

Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, PhD (Cantab) CFR, on Monday April 20, 2026 formally presented his Letter of Credence to United Nations.

UN Secretary General António Guterres, officially received and accredited him as the Permanent Representative Extraordinary and… pic.twitter.com/FdZ5zNe9YI

— Temitope Ajayi (@TheTope_Ajayi) April 21, 2026

He said investments in infrastructure and the power sector are also being sustained.

Ibrahim reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to multilateral cooperation, particularly in promoting peace in sensitive regions such as the Strait of Hormuz.

He assured the UN of Nigeria’s readiness to support global peace initiatives and diplomatic engagements.

Speaking after receiving the letter of credence, Guterres welcomed Ibrahim’s appointment. He said the United Nations is excited to work with him in advancing shared global goals.


The UN chief described Ibrahim’s diplomatic role as timely and important. He expressed confidence in strengthening cooperation between Nigeria and the United Nations.

Ibrahim got his letter of credence from the Nigerian foreign ministry on April 1, following his clearance to assume office.

He, alongside others, was nominated in November 2025.

“In two separate letters to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, President Tinubu asked the Senate to consider and confirm expeditiously 15 nominees as career ambassadors and 17 nominees as non-career ambassadors,” presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga said then.

They were subsequently cleared by the lawmakers despite criticisms over some names in the list of ambassadorial nominees.

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Appeal Court dismisses Julius Abure’s suit, affirms Usman as Labour Party leader

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The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, has, in a unanimous judgement delivered by a three-member panel of Justices, dismissed the appeal filed by Barrister Julius Abure challenging the leadership of the Labour Party.

It was reported that on 21st January 2026, Hon. Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, reaffirmed the earlier judgment of the Supreme Court that removed Barr. Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise Senator Nenadi Usman as the legitimate leader of the party, to the exclusion of all others.

Dissatisfied with that decision, Barr. Abure approached the Court of Appeal in suit No. CA/ABJ/CV/255/2026 – Barr. Julius Abure & Anor v. Sen. Nenadi Esther Usman & 3 Ors – seeking to overturn the judgment of the lower court.


In the lead judgment delivered by Justice Oyejoju Oyewumi, with Justices A. B. Mohammed and Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike concurring, the appellate court affirmed the decision of the Federal High Court.

The court held that the Supreme Court had, on 4th April 2025, conclusively settled the leadership dispute within the Labour Party when it nullified the convention that purportedly returned Barr. Abure as National Chairman.


The appellate court agreed with the trial court that the court below had the powers under Section 251 of the Constitution to compel a statutory Federal Government agency to perform its functions when it ordered INEC to recognise Senator Nenadi Usman as the National Chairman of the Labour Party.

The appellate court also agreed with the trial court that the constitution of the Caretaker Committee of the Labour Party, headed by Usman, was a doctrine of necessity needed to provide leadership in the party when there appeared to be a vacuum.

The Justices strongly criticised Barr. Abure for abuse of court process and for engaging in forum shopping at a Nasarawa State High Court on a matter already decided by the Supreme Court, and for persisting in laying claim to the leadership of the party despite the clear and unambiguous pronouncement of the apex court.


The court further held that the appeal was devoid of merit and constituted an abuse of court process.

Consequently, the court, while dismissing the appeal by Barr. Abure, imposed a cost of ten million naira against him for wasting judicial time on a matter that had already been conclusively determined.

Reacting to the judgment, the Interim National Chairman of the Labour Party, Senator Nenadi Usman, described the ruling as a victory for democracy and the rule of law. She commended the judiciary for its courage and steadfastness in upholding justice despite attempts by certain elements to undermine its integrity.


Senator Usman also expressed gratitude to party faithful and supporters across the country for their patience, loyalty, and unwavering commitment during the period of uncertainty.

She urged all stakeholders to remain focused on the party’s forthcoming congresses and national convention.

The party further appreciated members of the media for their professionalism and objective reporting and called on Nigerians to continue to place their trust in the Labour Party as preparations intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections

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2027: Why Amupitan can’t be trusted – Aisha Yesufu insists

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Activist Aisha Yesufu has criticised the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, following its recent statement on a purportedly fabricated X account linked to its chairman, Joash Amupitan.

Reacting via her verified X account on Tuesday, Yesufu said the development raises concerns about the credibility of the electoral body ahead of future elections.

“This more than anything shows INEC under Joash Amupitan cannot be trusted to conduct free, fair and credible election. By this desperation to deny something that is so glaring, Amupitan has offered himself as a tool to be used,” she wrote.

Recall that her remarks come amid ongoing public debate over INEC’s clarification regarding the alleged fake social media account attributed to its chairman.

Recall that INEC had released a statement on Monday detailing how a fabricated X account was used in a coordinated attempt to frame Amupitan following a forensic investigation that it said found no link between him and the viral posts attributed to his name.

The commission said the probe, conducted with the support of independent cybersecurity experts established that the account @joashamupitan and the controversial post, “Victory is sure,” were products of digital manipulation and impersonation.

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