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The private terminal operators at the nation’s seaports have carried out their treat of challenging the Appeal Court judgment that declared some of their charges illegal and penalty of over one trillion naira slammed against them.
The concessionaires, under the umbrella of Seaport Terminal Operators of Nigeria (STOAN) has filed an appeal in Supreme Court against the Nigerian Shippers Council and Shippers Association of Lagos State (SALS) to vacate the rulings of the appellate court.
They are challenging the judgment of the court of appeal which on January 16, 2018 upheld the judgment of a Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos that declared the charges illegal and ordering the terminal operators to revert to status quo on storage and port charges as at 2009.
The court case which lasted over a year had affirmed the judgement of the lower court saying that the submission of the terminal operators lacked merit even as it was termed to be a mere academic work.
Delivering the judgment in January, Justice Chidi Uwa maintained that the appellant failed to establish its case.
A reliable source in Shippers Council confirmed that the concessionaires had actually went to the apex court and that the Council is waiting for summons.
A document dated February 26, 2018, sighted by our reporter in Lagos, also revealed that STOAN has also hired a new Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) to boost the legal team that held sway at the lower courts.
Council to SALS, Osuala Nwagbara, while reacting to the development, said the terminal operators have eventually
decided to drag the council to the Supreme Court.
“As we speak, we have received the advanced copy by the terminal operators and that is where we are at the moment.
“We are waiting for the court to notify us. I just laid my hands on a copy and I will meet with client on the next line
of action,” he said.
