Suspend action on e-customs concession project, court tells FG

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has directed the Federal Government to stop the enforcement of an agreement on the Customs Modernisation Project otherwise known as E-Customs executed by its agents on May 30, 2022.

The Nigeria Customs Service, Trade Modernisation Project Limited, Huawei Technologies Company Nigeria Limited and African Finance Corporation, had claimed to have executed the disputed concession agreement.

But the court issued an order of interim injunction against the federal government or its agents, acting through the Federal Executive Council, from retrospectively ratifying the decision to concession the Customs Modernisation Project also known as e- customs project to Trade Modernisation Project Limited, Huawei Technologies Company Limited and African Finance Corporation.

The presiding judge of the Abuja Division of the court, Justice Inyang Ekwo, gave the order, saying it shall last till the hearing and the determination of a suit brought against the Federal Government and other parties by two aggrieved companies.

The two aggrieved companies, E-customs HC Project Limited and BionicaTechnologies (West Africa) Limited jointly challenged the allege unlawful concession of the E-custom project to the defendants.

Counsel to the two aggrieved companies, Anone Usman had on behalf of the two plaintiffs argued an ex-parte application praying the Federal High Court for the interim order against the defendants to protect the interest of his clients.

Justice Ekwo while ruling on the ex-parte application granted the prayers of the plaintiff having placed sufficient evidence of interest in the concession project.