ANLCA Airport Leadership Crisis: IGP Monitoring Team Arrests Adewusi

BY EGUONO ODJEGBA

The ugly and lamentable impression created within some quarters of  the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) that the Inspector General, Kayode Egbetokun led management has been unable to arrest a none state actor, paled into nothingness when a detachment of the IG Monitoring Team earlier today, Thursday 2025, picked up Prince Gbamgbala Adewusi.

Until July 2, 2024 when he was suspended indefinitely by the national leadership of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Prince Gbamgbala Adewusi was the chairman of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) chapter.

Adewusi was not only indicted for reportedly embezzling, mismanaging and appropriating  ANLCA’s monies at the airport chapter, the National Executive Committee (NECOM)  accused him of occupying the office unlawfully, vide unethical means including fraudulent and illegal manourvres, bothering on procured official abuses and wholesale thuggery.

Records show that while his suspension was said to have been thwarted with the alleged support and connivance of some elements in the Nigeria Police despite that the said suspension followed the association’s laid down rules and the due procedure, to which insiders believe Adewusi reluctantly submitted; in a manner reminiscent of a dissident.

With opposition trailing his emergency as chairman of MMIA chapter from day one, allegations were rife that Adewusi procured the questionable support of the police to sustain his controversial tenure up until he was shown the red card; even as he was again believed to have used the police to frustrate his lawful suspension.

The NECOM in a statement announcing Adewusi’s suspension said it was based on the outcome of a probe of financial corruption leveled against him, plus his alleged failure to show up at the Disciplinary Committee set up by it to enable him and three others defend themselves against the charge of corruption.

This is even as the association at the time urged the general public not to carry out any transaction with the suspended members on behalf of ANLCA until their suspension is revised. The NECOM warned that no amount of subterfuge and orchestrated blackmail will deter it from carrying out its lawful duty and enjoined members to conduct themselves responsibly.

The letter conveying the suspension order signed by the National Secretary, Mr. Fakunle Olumide reads: “This is to notify the entire members of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) of the suspension of the membership of the under listed from the Association: Mr. Bamgbala Adewusi of ASHOV Nig.Ltd/BATOLAB Nigeria Limited…

“The decision to suspend the membership of the above persons is premised on their failure/refusal to appear before the Disciplinary Committee to defend themselves over the documented allegations of financial malpractices bordering on embezzlement of Association money as stated in Section 24 (10) of the 2023 constitution as amended.

“Consequently, the above stated members henceforth cease to be recognized as members of the Association, and no transaction shall be conducted with them in their former capacities as members of the Association until further notice.”

With plenty money to play around with, Adewusi who is believed to have been enjoying the protection of certain elements in the Nigeria Police, according to industry gist, proved both inaccessible and untouchable by reasons of constantly been shielded.

Members of ANLCA say that the questionable protection he enjoys from his police friends helped in no small way in undermining good behaviour, disciple and order in the association. Pinnacle Time gathered that the development prompted ANLCA national leaders including few individual members to petition the IGP early in 2024. Those whose business it is to know explained that the petition was re-routed to the Force Special Fraud Unit (SFU) Ikoyi Lagos, by the IGP for investigation and further actions.

Consequently, Adewusi was reportedly invited, detained and later granted bail. Insiders revealed that as the investigation progressed and more facts emerged, Adewusi allegedly resorted to play ball the big way as he allegedly bought over the SFU purportedly from getting serious with the case.

Sources within the ANLCA leadership corridor further claimed that apart from the NPF SFU,  Adewusi also had the MMIA Police Command under his calls and beck, a situation that severely bungled the administration of justice as far as the department of police was concerned in respect of cases associated with the crisis between Adewusi and his opponents.

Confirming the development, a source in the Office of the Chairman, Board of Trustees of ANLCA, explained that whereas Adewusi’s  investigation by SFU ended more than six months ago, the Unit allegedly for its own reasons failed to charge the case to court. The source added that when the media got wind of the developments nd started sniffing around and asking questions, the matter was quickly charged to court.

He however added that the matter ended there as the SFU according to him refused to order the arrest of Adewusi, which inaction he explained “is akin to gross dereliction of duty.”

“The investigation has been concluded close to six months now, what is remaining is to charge the matter to court. We have been told that the Unit has been inviting Adewusi in the past three months but that he refused to make himself available; which we find rather curious.

“You know that in law, it is the police that have the responsibility to produce him in court. When one of our chieftains called some personnel of the SFU why the case is dragging, his response was that  the Unit does not make arrest. That response confirmed our fears that something was wrong.

“Remember that it was the same Unit that granted him bail when he was invited earlier. So if the same police department is asking the suspect to come and he is not doing so, it means he has jumped bail. In truth we have seen evidences of letters of invitation sent to him on three occasions, but the Unit’s recent excuse that it does not make arrest raises a lot concern.”

Continuing, the source said, “Remember also that in August, ANLCA demanded that the matter be charged to court but the CP played the fast one by preaching amicable settlement. Out of respect for his office, our leaders agreed to his suggestion of two weeks’ time frame to seek amicable settlement, promising to charge the case to court if the settlement failed.

“ANLCA have since requested that the case be charged to court but it appears the Unit is shy of doing so. This is a man who has mismanaged over N300 million association funds in the past three years. In fact, that was why a petition was written to the IGP which was minuted to the SFU for investigation. Sadly after completing their investigation, the Unit has been dragging its feet to charge the man to court.

“We have been hearing rumours that Adewusi has doled out more than N10million to keep the SFU quiet since the case got there. Don’t forget that the Unit collected huge amount of money from us which they said is for logistics cost to carry out the investigation…to go to banks, and to do this and do that”, our source lamented.

Interestingly, like the SFU, there are reports that the MMIA Police Command has been pampering and protecting Adewusi like a minister of the federal republic. According to the leadership of ANLCA Adewusi have also been enjoying the deployment of police officers of the command for guard duty and for his personal protection.

“If you study the scenario, you will understand that these protection is designed to shield him from the internal mechanism of ANLCA disciplinary measures”, a top chieftain of the association at the national secretariat volunteered.

On January 15, 2025, Adewusi reportedly flooded the chapter secretariat with police men and air force personnel, which the association leadership explained is aimed at sitting put and refusing to vacate the office, having stayed put for a three year term tenure that was truncated at some point vide a suspension order which Adewusi however, refused to obey.

Special Senior Assistant to the National President on Special Duty, Joe Sanni said Adewusi’s intention is to continue to remain in office indefinitely, while those offering him questionable protection fall over themselves to avail him their services, regardless of his rascality and lawless disposition to the association he represents at the chapter.

When contacted for reaction, the SFU Public Relations Officer, Johnson Omodolapo said the case in question has been charged to court.

“Please be informed that the information you are working with is grossly inaccurate and misleading. At this juncture, it is rather unprofessional to discuss the findings/recommendations of investigation into the petition of ANLCA against ADEWUSI BAMGBALA with the press or other 3rd parties.

“However, be assured that in furtherance to the conclusion of the investigation, PSFU had filed criminal charges against Adewusi Bamgbala at the Federal High Court and Tinubu Magistrate Court”, Omodolapo said.

Effort to get the Police Force Spokesman, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi to comment on the issue was unsuccessful as he did not pick calls made to his telephone. He did not also respond to a Whatsapp message sent to him on the matter by our reporter; ditto his subordinate colleague at the MMIA Command, Supo Ibikunle.

Despite attempt to paint the police establishment with unacceptable character, especially following the reluctance of the SFU to arrest and produce Adewusi in court to answer the charges leveled against him, the IG Monitoring Team acting on a fresh petition stormed the MMIA Chapter of ANLCA Thursday to effect his arrest.

An impeccable top insider source who confirmed the development however explained that Adewusi left boasting that he is well connected in the NPF, bragging that a friendly DIG and a supposed “Force Spokesman” whom he reportedly claimed is his relative will ensure that he is promptly released.

Chairman Board of Trustees, Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha commenting on the arrest of Adewusi said his boast to return shortly to take over the secretariat and reclaim the office of the chairman is regrettable; even as he applauded the police hierarchy of maintaining unbiased stance and nurturing professionalism.

“The news of his arrest by the IG Monitoring Team highlights the sad reality of an apparent state of professional conflict in the NPF  shamelessly been exhibited by some bad eggs within the system.

“Thank God that we have an IGP and a management team that are professionals, committed, focused and  passionate about responsible police administration who within 24 hours of receipt of our petition regarding the strange  behaviour of the SFU, swung into action and picked up Adewusi.

“People accused of criminalities and criminal behaviours should be made to account for their actions, they should be made to  face the law and presented in the court of law to face trial. That is the only way we can fight crime.”

Explaining  how the association leadership has bent double backwards in the past to accommodate Adewusi by seeking some form of soft landing for him, the board chairman lamented that he (Adewusi) paid back with insult and arrogance.

“l have been so patient with him because of the soft spot l use to have for him. When this issue started, l remember l spoke with him for about an hour one particular night, advising him to take the path of a honour and allow us work out a soft landing for him; but he didn’t listen. Also when he went to court, the Coordinator of Western Zone, Alhaji Anifowoshe and Hajia Muse pleaded with me to allow him to serve out his three years tenure; l sat back on the strength of that plea.

“It is therefore a surprise that after the three years tenure, he has been boasting that he will do one more year. To me that was the height of disrespect and irresponsibility and at this point, l also made up my mind that it was time the association moved against him.

“Let me say this, the association is not a jungle where lawlessness will be the order of things. No individual member of ANLCA of today can ride roughshod over the right and liberty of the whole members.  The board and national leadership will henceforth not watch any individual member abuse our collective intelligence.”

It will be recalled that Association National President, Mr. Emenike Nwokeoji weekend placed a cap on any more misbehavior from Prince Bamgbala Adewusi, stating that Adewusi’s time was up and must vacate the chapter secretariat or be bundled out.

Like the board chairman, the president also lamented that Adewusi bungled all the opportunities offered him to redeem his image through tactical and sensible exit.

“Haven been tolerated this much l believe the time is ripe for him to leave that place, so, leave he must leave. We endured him this long because we wanted to carry everybody along but he has become very unreasonable and there is a limit to human endurance.”

Nwokeoji said the most painful aspect is that in the face of all the turbulence, Adewusi didn’t win the chapter election and has therefore been an impostor, all along.

“He knows that there is a limit to how much you can play around with court cases, because this is a man that has two court judgments handing on his head; one from Badagry one from Lagos; court judgments not court orders.

“So he has no stand anywhere to continue to hold on to a position… even the judgment stated in the first place that he is not qualified to have contested the election. It is a judgment not court order, so something is being done, l can assure you that before long he will be history”, he declared.