By Ikemefuna Asika
Anambra State Government has expressed displeasure over the sealing of some importers’ businesses and warehouses in the state for almost a month by some agents without proof of wrongdoing.
In this regard, Anambra State government through Commissioner for Industry, Christian C. Udechukwu on the 21st of June 2024 issued a notice of advise to all importers/industries in the State.
According to the notice, “under laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, no person(s) or agency has powers to seal or close any business in Anambra State without compliance or following through with all due legal processes as are available to any accused person(s) under the law including but not exclusive to the service of a dated letter highlighting the specific offences committed by the business owner.
“A situation where some Importers’ businesses and or warehouses in Anambra State were sealed by some agents for almost a month without proof of wrongdoing is an abuse of powers/failure to be fully compliant under the laws of Nigeria, and therefore, such actions are completely/totally unacceptable and would not be tolerated or encouraged by the Government of Anambra State.
“Any staff of any agency who goes against this official position will be liable personally, jointly and severally with his or her named agency to expect applicable legal remedies, under the circumstances, including prosecution of concerned persons, and they are liable to pay for any named amounts for damages to business owners and or to compensate for reputational loss/and or loss of income to the affected business owner whose business was sealed without proper due legal processes, and without first obtaining a specific legal Court Order authorizing such an extreme action as business or warehouse closures” the notice warned.
The noticed also explained that “Any person or person(s) who violates such a legal process, as advised by Anambra State Government, will have the full rights of the citizen, business owner, and liabilities for loss of income and or damage to reputation fully enforced against them and their named agency by the affected business owners without prejudice.
“Anyone/agent caught or implicated as an accomplice in the same illegal closure of any legitimate business saga will also be jointly and severally liable to lawful prosecution. And this specific business protection policy advise includes the leadership of any organized group or associations that are negligent in their duty of care and protection of their members from abuse or violations by anyone or agency.
“All legal compliance disputes must first be settled in good faith and without bitterness or disruption to normal business operations, but where all good faith efforts fail, every entrepreneur/importer/industrialist has a right to get legal help and should seek legal protection from any abuse.
“No one has a right to seal or close down any business without a legal warrant or Court Order specifying the specific offenses committed, indicating the legal period for closure, and any other legal advice that may be essential to the reopening of their businesses” the notice stated.
He advised business owner(s) who feels that their rights have been unjustly violated to get legal counsel for advice on its legal options, and to seek to enforce its own rights, and to get advise of any available legal remedies and claim to damages that may be available to him/her.
“No business in Anambra State should operate with fear or prejudice from any agent/actors of whatever description.
“Every citizen is bound by law and civic duty to perform all legitimate mandatory acts of documentation compliance for the purpose of operating their businesses, and to keep, at all times, all their statutory documents in place, as may be legally required of them by the laws of Nigeria.
“At the same time, all citizens operating their businesses legitimately have a right to pursue their happiness without any prejudice or fear from anyone or official agents operating within Anambra State.
The notice further advised those who want to operate legitimate business activities in Anambra State to contact the office of the Commissioner for Industry or the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Government of Anambra State, at the Jerome Udoji Secretariat, Awka.
He noted that Governor Soludo wishes for all legitimate business owners who are in compliance with the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to continue to pursue their lawful business in Anambra State with full happiness, and without any unlawful limitations, fear or prejudice.
