The office of the Lagos State Wharf Landing fees collecting authority was robbed, and some of the impounded vehicles forcefully driven away.
The incident happened at about 8pm at the main gate of the Lagos State Wharf Landing when a branded vehicle arrived with the some hoodlums with different weapons and charms.
The Public Affairs Officer Mr. Oputeh Michael, who was trying to calm the situation was seriously attacked and was robbed of his two phones, Tecno spark 4, 4G lite and Samsung galaxy S20 and his wedding ring
A woman and member of the hoodlums identified as Alhaja Amope, demanded to know why their vehicles were impounded by our enforcement team.
The police of the Area B Command visited the Wharf Landing office that night the branded vehicle plate number was captured, and was traced to the Chairman of one of the Associations in the port, who gave a false statement that he was not at the scene when his members and the hoodlum invaded and robbed Wharf Landing officials.
When the Police of the Area B Command contacted Alhaja Amope on phone, she confessed to the police that the Chairman was at the scene when their members and hoodlums invaded and robbed Wharf Landing office on Oduduwa Road Apapa.
Typically Wharf Landing Fees are payable by consignees, shipping companies or their agents in respect goods discharged from vessels calling at designated ports for Local Government with ports and Wharfs within their territories, wharf landing are akin to motor park levy, which is a well established source of Local Government revenue.
The clearing agents and others connive with Military personnel and Police officers to evade the payment of Wharf Landing Fees.
The Lagos State Wharf Landing Fees Law was enacted in 2009 by the Lagos State House of Assembly. This was sequel to the approval given to Apapa Local Government by the office of the joint Tax Board and the Federal Ministry of Finance in 2001 and 2002 respectively, during the administration of Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola.
The Lagos State Ministry of Justice has since swing into the matter, through the Directorate of Public Prosecution to handle the case.