Nigerian Breweries Plc has filed a Notice of Appeal against the judgement of Ondo State High Court, in respect of haulage fees assessed at N169 million.
The leading brewer stated that operators in the haulage space are wholly responsible for the payment of haulage fees.
Nigerian Breweries confirmed in a statement issued by the Company Secretary, Uaboi Agbebaku, that the Ondo State High Court, in Akure on the 27th of January, 2021 gave a judgment against the Company and in favour of the Ondo State Government.
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Consequent to the court ruling, in respect of the N169 million haulage fees, the company filed a Notice of Appeal against the court judgment, as well as an application for stay of execution of the judgment pending the appeal.
What you should know
- According to the statement issued by the company, it was made clear that the Ondo State Government had initially taken a self-help approach to seal the Depot on the 28th of January, 2021.
- However, the depot was subsequently re-opened on the 2nd of February, 2021 by the State Government, following petitions by the Company’s lawyers on the unorthodox steps initially taken to seal the Depot.
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In its defence, the brewer disclosed that it does not engage in haulage business, and does not own or operate any haulage truck whether in Ondo State or anywhere else.
The company stressed that haulage fees are by law, paid by companies in the haulage business, hence, independent third parties operating in the haulage space are wholly charged with the responsibility of moving the Company’s products across the country.