The Chairman, Board of Trustees, BOT, of Importers Association of Nigeria, IMAN, Chief Gilbert Bravo Obi, Wednesday confirmed that Ambassador Chijioke Okoro was the acting Director-General (Special Taskforce) of the association.
This development was sequel to the controversy and claim by Osita Okereke that he remains the DG of IMAN, Taskforce.
The BOT chairman made this confirmation in a press briefing in Abuja when he explained to newsmen that Okereke who was former DG of IMAN, Special Taskforce formally ceased to function in that capacity in 2015.
When further grilled, he affirmed that the sack of Okereke followed his alleged declaration of false affidavit in court wherein he claimed that the IMAN certificate of incorporation was lost to armed robbers and subsequently deceived the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, into issuing him another.
He said, “Okereke who is presently under police investigation over alleged impersonation and forgery besides other criminal offences is not the DG IMAN, Special Taskforce.
“He was suspended and sacked in 2015 by the IMAN, Board of Trustees, BOT.
“He fraudulently declared our certificate of incorporation lost and deceived the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, with a court affidavit that deceived them into believing him and, in effect, issued him with another certificate of incorporation.
“We formed IMAN in 2007. But when Okereke was appointed DG, Special Taskforce, he soon after started to be funny and tried to appropriate IMAN as a private business.
“As a result, we sacked him because he was spoiling the name of IMAN. He was playing tricks and collecting huge sums of money from different states across the country.
“IMAN’ original certificate of incorporation is still in my possession as I speak. I single-handedly financed IMAN for many years ago.
“Ambassador Chijioke Okoro is now the acting DG, IMAN (Special Taskforce). He was deputy Director-General under the leadership of Phillimon Leha as Director-General. Leha was a retired Police DIG.
“Okoro’s new position became necessary because Leha is involved in politics and, hardly finds time to carry out IMAN activities.
Also, the IMAN National Secretary, Hon. Kingsley Chikezie confirmed the new position of Okoro as IMAN, acting DG.
He added, “Okereke ceased to function as IMAN (Special Taskforce) Director-General on the verdict of the appeal court in Abuja.
“The appeal court quashed the judgment of the Abuja High court, sitting in Jabi that delivered judgment in favour of Okereke.
“Anybody saying something in the contrary is either economical with the truth or ignorant of the present development in this circumstance”.
It would be recalled that National Taskforce is an arm of IMAN charged with the responsibility to combat illegal importation, smuggling of goods, small arms, ammunition and light weapons across the country.
