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Group Threatens To Sue NSC Board/Management For Misuse of Budgetary Allocations ... As International Maritime Seminar For Judges Kicks Off Today In Abuja

By Anne Ejuka


A group of maritime practitioners under the auspices of Save Nigeria Freight Forwarders Importers and Exporters Coalition has threatened to take legal actions against the Nigeria Shippers' Councilor on what they termed 'Misuse of Budgetary Allocations'  as the annual seminar for Judges kicks off today the 9th of July in Abuja.

The group, has queried why the council on annual basis since the last 17yeas  lavish funds that should have been used  for shippers development , protection and training of the on the judiciary since the  judicial council has one of the highest budgetary allocation under justice ministry.

According to the National President  of the group, Chief Dr Osita Patrick Chukwu, the annual ritual has become a waste of fund and resources which needs to be stoped especially as the country is facing serious economic hardship. 

In his words, "This is a waste of fund and resources because I don't know what prompted this and why it continues to repeat yearly. I don't think the Shipper Council has finished the role and daunting task and challenges facing the Nigeria shippers and their service providers value chain taking coginisance of Shippers Council that government gave powers to regulate port economic derivatives and their value chain".

Counting, Chief Osita said, " I stand to be corrected, in the whole senario going on in the budgetary allocation made to be used to develop, protect, project, train and proffer solutions to enable the indigenous shippers life growth. The Nigeria Bar Association organise similar seminar yearly not even their own council,  Nigeria Judicial Council which in any seem to have utilize their budget for the shippers or they Agents/freight forwarders. This should stop and urge federal government to place embargo on this wasteful seminar and conferences".

"The Nigeria Shippers' Council deology seems to me robbing Peter to pay Paul. The shippers council has statutory role to hold on and play also but, instead they choose to go into another dimension  which orchestrated lavishing of funds that could be used to training of staff and shippers.  As economic regulator, they shouldn't be involved  in this kind of jamboree but should focused on the role of establishment by the act.

Chief Osita concluded by asking a very pertinent question,  " What impacts those seminars do in the lives idegineous Shippers development?

The Nigerian Shippers’ Council NSC under the auspices of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy in collaboration with the National Judicial Institute NJI will today  kickoff with the 17th edition of its International Maritime Seminar for Judges. The three-day event would be chaired by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation H.E Senator George Akume, KSJI, fnim,

The event will take place at the Abuja Continental Hotel (former Abuja Sheraton Hotel), Ladi Kwali Centre from Tuesday, July 9 – Thursday, July11 2024, from 9:00am – 5:00pm daily.

According to a statement from the Assistant Director,  Public Relations of the council, Mrs Rebecca Adamu,  The objective of the seminar is to update the knowledge of participants, Justices, Judges, in-house counsel, legal practitioners, captains of industry etc. on contemporary issues and developments in International Maritime Law and Admiralty Practice, as it impacts Nigeria and the West African Sub-region.

“An array of eminent jurists, erudite scholars and seasoned maritime/legal practitioners from the judiciary and foreign experts will deliver papers aimed at addressing several burning and complex issues bedevilling the maritime industry such as Legal Issues in Nigerian Seaports Trade Facilitation, Shipping in the Age of Innovation and Climate Change: The Role of Artificial Intelligence, Autonomous Vessels and Decarbonisation.”

Other topics for discussion include ADR as an Effective Tool in the Resolution of Maritime Disputes: Current Developments and Matters Arising, Admiralty Jurisdiction Procedure Rules 2023 and Matters Arising – An Appellate Perspective to Admiralty Jurisdiction in Nigeria and Maritime Law in 2024.

It was gathered that the Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, Engr. Abdullahi A. Sule would be the Special Guest of Honour while the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Honourable Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, GCON would be the Chief Host, while the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, H.E Adegboyega Oyetola, CON will be the host of the occasion.

The statement also said that distinguished dignitaries expected at the occasion include the Chief Justices of The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, along with some Justices / Judges of their respective judiciaries.

Other participants expected at the seminar include Justices of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and Judges of the Federal and State High Courts, Legal Advisers, in-house Counsel, legal and maritime practitioners as well as industry stakeholders.


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