The management of Guinness Nigeria Plc has threatened a legal action against the authorities of Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area over the alleged invasion of its Benin-City plant premises.
BD SUNDAY learnt that Itohan Ogeide-Osahon, the local government chairman, had on July 23, led other members of the council to mount blockade at the entrance to the brewery.
Ogeide-Osahon explained that the action was occasioned by the alleged obstruction of the council’s officials from collection of fees from third party logistics companies engaged in the provision of haulage services.
A statement signed by Sesan Sobowale, corporate relations director of Guinness, a copy of which was made available to BD SUNDAY in Benin-City, described the action of the council as unlawful and an act of blackmail.
“We are taken aback by this unlawful disruption of our activities ostensibly to blackmail the company to assume the role of an agent for revenue collection from the logistics services providers. The blockade is also in violation of a subsisting court order restraining the local government from mounting blockades at our premises and demanding levies allegedly payable by these companies from Guinness Nigeria,” Sobowale said.
While noting that the organisation is the second largest employer of labour in the state after the state government as well as the major private sector contributor to internally generated revenue, however, appealed to Governor Adams Oshiomhole to prevail on the council authorities to stop further invasion of its office.
“The invasion of our business premises which we witnessed on July 23, 2015 has become recurrent, and we have had to call the attention of the Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, to this practice by Ikpoba-Okha Local Government officials.
“The governor was emphatic about the local government having no business blocking our business premises in a bid to collect third party levies.
“As a law abiding corporate citizen, Guinness Nigeria Plc hereby appeals to the leadership of the local government to act in compliance with applicable laws. We understand our responsibilities, and always act lawfully and with integrity in every aspects of our business.
“This same principle has guided all our engagements with the Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area and we will advise the local government to engage directly with haulage service providers at their premises on any matter concerning them in compliance with all applicable laws,” he said.
Sobowale noted that the establishment as a responsible, law abiding corporate citizen that has operated its business peacefully for several decades in Benin-City would continue to explore options for peaceful and legal resolution of the issue.
