By Luminous Jannamike

ABUJA – A civic group, the Citizens WhistleBlowers Coalition (CWC), has accused some foreign corporations of operating with impunity in Nigeria, while blaming regulatory bodies for failing to hold them accountable.

The allegations include financial misconduct, regulatory violations, and deliberate subversion of Nigeria’s legal authority, which the group claims are crippling the nation’s economy and undermining its sovereignty.

In a petition submitted to the National Assembly, the CWC called for a full-scale investigation into the operations of a global shipping powerhouse, citing illegal shipping charges, a ₦3 trillion container deposit scandal, and the company’s alleged use of foreign courts to evade Nigerian jurisdiction.

Speaking at the National Assembly Complex, Mr. Karl Chinedu, the group’s spokesperson, accused the firm of exploiting its dominant market position to impose excessive fees, withhold container deposits, and delay trade operations.

“This company cannot operate in Nigeria while flouting its laws and draining its economy. This is about accountability, economic justice, and the dignity of Nigeria,” Chinedu told journalists.

He emphasized that the firm’s actions pose a direct threat to fair business practices and national sovereignty.

The petition highlights three key allegations: illegal and arbitrary shipping charges in violation of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPC), a ₦3 trillion unrefunded container deposit scandal, and the evasion of Nigerian jurisdiction through anti-suit injunctions secured from foreign courts.

According to him, industry stakeholders estimate that billions of naira in container deposits have been withheld, crippling businesses and disrupting trade operations nationwide.

The CWC also accused the firm of deliberate shipping delays, demurrage rip-offs, and illegal detention of goods.

A notable case cited in the petition involves another company, which allegedly lost ₦49.8 million due to extortionate practices. The Federal High Court had to order the arrest of a vessel, which was only released after a $10 million bond was deposited.

The group further urged lawmakers to investigate the company’s tax compliance, noting that its reported global revenue does not reflect its contributions to Nigeria’s economy.

“Nigeria’s maritime sector is critical to trade and development. For a foreign company to operate with this level of impunity, detaining goods, levying illegal charges, and dodging taxes, is unacceptable,” said Nafiu Ibrahim, CWC’s Programme Officer for Investigations.

The House of Representatives has summoned the company for a public hearing, but it has so far failed to appear or issue a formal response. Lawmakers have rescheduled the session for July 2 and threatened compulsory appearance if the firm continues to disregard parliamentary oversight.

The CWC’s petition also drew attention to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy’s public call for an end to the outdated container deposit scheme, urging the adoption of more modern and transparent systems used globally.

“The House is now invoking its constitutional oversight powers under Section 88 of the 1999 Constitution, signaling what could become a defining test of Nigeria’s resolve to assert control over foreign corporations operating within its borders,” the group stated.

The allegations have sparked outrage among industry stakeholders, with trade groups like the Nigerian Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) and the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) threatening protests and boycotts over unrefunded deposits and demurrage fraud.