…As IPMAN, NSCDC lock horns over bribery allegation
By Wole Balogun, Ado Ekiti
FOLLOWING the alleged arrest of tanker drivers operating in Ekiti State by men of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NCSDC), the agency and Independent and Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) seem to have drawn a battle line in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, leading to the latter preventing tankers from taking fuel into the state in protest against what they called unlawful arrest and extortion of their members by men of the NSCDC.
The independent marketers have since written a petition to the state Governor, Ayo Fayose, from the chambers of E. K. Adetifa, legal practitioners.
The petition, dated March 22, 2016 and addressed to the governor on behalf of IPMAN, described the excesses of the NSCDC as having adverse effects on their businesses.
It accused NSCDC of unlawful arrest and detention of tanker drivers bringing petroleum products to the state under the guise that the products were being diverted from other states.
“Our client has further informed us that on March 21, the National Chairman of Petroleum Tankers Drivers’ Association (PTDA) has directed members not to bring petroleum products to Ekiti until the spate of reckless seizure, arrest and detention by NSCDC is firmly abated.”
The Chairman of IPMAN in Ekiti, Mr. Ayodele Owoeye, while addressing journalists yesterday on the issue, said the indication of the foregoing directive was that it would unleash adverse economic impact on the state.
Owoeye, who was represented by Alhaji Suleiman Akinbami, pleaded with government to wade into the matter to prevent total closure of petroleum business in Ekiti.
But the state Commandant of NSCDC, Ekiti Command, Mr. Ibrahim Raji, who described the allegations as frivolous, said the marketers should be bold enough to mention whoever takes bribe from them, rather than resorting to blanket condemnation of his officers.