×

Most Widely Read Newspaper

Shippers’ council floors STOAN, shipping agents at A’Court

Shippers’ council floors STOAN, shipping agents at A’Court

Oladimeji Ramon

The Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, has upheld the power of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council to intervene in shipping agency charges and fees collectable by suppliers of shipping and terminal services at the Nigerian ports.

In a lead judgment by Justice Chidi Nwagbara, the appellate court dismissed the appeal filed by the Association of Shipping Line Agencies and the Seaport Terminal Operators’ Association of Nigeria against the NSC.

In the copy of the judgment obtained by our correspondent on Sunday, Justice Nwagbara upheld the decision of the Federal High Court in Lagos, which had earlier affirmed the regulatory authority of the NCS over shipping agency charges.

The ASLA and STOAN have been having a running battle with the NSC over the reduction of shipping line agency charges and refund of container deposits collected by ASLA members.

The two bodies also challenged the NSC over the reduction in progressive storage charges and increase in free storage days by STOAN members.

The Federal High Court in Lagos had in 2015 dismissed a suit they filed against the NSC, but the two groups went on appeal and also obtained an order to stay the execution of the court’s judgment pending the outcome of the appeal.

Apart from dismissing the appeal, Justice Nwagbara also upheld the counter-appeal by the Shippers Association Lagos State, which was joined as second respondent in the appeal.

The judge held, “The unilateral introduction and imposition of the SLACs, by the appellant and collection of same from shippers or users shipping/port services from 2006 to date is illegal, ultra vires and, therefore, null and void.”

The court ordered the shipping firms to refund money already collected, with interest at 21 per cent.

Copyright PUNCH.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Contact: [email protected]

Stay informed and ahead of the curve! Follow The Punch Newspaper on WhatsApp for real-time updates, breaking news, and exclusive content. Don't miss a headline – join now!

Join The Punch Newspapers Channel