14/09/2008 (Sunday Tribune) - The Coalition Against Import Duty Fraud (CAIDF) has condemned the efforts of some influential personalties to frustrate the attempts of the federal government of Nigeria to protect palm oil producers in the country.

The coalition, a Lagos based non-governmental organisation, also lend it support to the Association of Palm Oil Producers in Nigeria, in ensuring that that the government policies on palm oil production are well protected and implemented

In a statement issued and signed by the National Co-ordinator, General Secretary and Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Ibrahim Mohammed, Chief Emeka Okeke and Otunba Bamgbola Ajayi respectively, the Group strongly condemned the unpatriotic attitude of some Nigerians whose passion is to circumvent the current ban on palm oil importation by bringing the product into the country through some other means.

Among such Nigerians, according to the group, is a notable figure (names withheld) currently being quizzed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over his alleged involvement in defrauding some Nigerian cement dealers who had made multi-billion naira advance payment to him for the supply of cement from his company a few years ago but failed to deliver.