Civil society group petitions IGP over illegalities of tree operators in Ondo

The Coalition of Civil Society Groups on Transparency and Social Justice (CCSGTSJ) has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, over the illegal activities and operations of Agbajowo Timber Flitching Associates in Ondo State.

In the petition signed by the group Head of Office of CCSGTSJ in Ondo State, Ismail Mohammed, accused the Agbajowo Timber Flitching Associates of engaging in illegal felling of trees and loggings, vandalism and other violent criminal activities in the state.

Mohammed who explained in the petition that the Timber Flitchings Associates was registered to engage in the business of sales and flitching of Timber, merchandising and general contracts, queried the activities of the company engaging in illegal felling of trees, saying “their activities is in flagrant abuse and violation of the provisions of Companies and Allied matters Act 90.”

The petition read “Agbajowo Timber Flitching Associates though registered as a private company, has engaged in forceful and illegal collection of dues from members across the state. Many criminal activities have been credited to the group in its operation as an illegal group.

“Our independent Investigations had further confirmed that some criminal elements within the society had been parading themselves illegally as trustees of the non-existing association but hide themselves under the name and style of a mere business name (Agbajowo Timber Flitching Associates) through which they concocted a binding constitution, call for membership, conduct elections into offices whose sole objectives are to extort and promote personal aggrandizements.

“Investigations also confirmed the threat to security of lives and properties of Ondo State people as they engage in illegal felling of trees and loggings, vandalism and other violent criminal activities.”

The Civil society group however called on the relevant authorities and security operatives in the state to stop the illegal activities of the Agbajowo Timber Flitching Associates in the state while the group should also seize to be operating as Trade union or association.

The civil society demanded “That the illegal members at the State and Local Government levels should be proscribed and disbanded forthwith.

“That those who constitute the illegal trustee and proprietors of the group should be arrested and prosecuted with immediate effect.”

The Coalition of Civil Society Groups on Transparency and Social Justice (CCSGTSJ) is a Citizen Sector Organisation established to promote the culture of transparency, accountability and social justice in the country.