Section 63: Written description of goods required

(1) The owner or person having charge of any goods which are brought upon a railway for the purpose of being carried thereon, and, if so required by a railway servant, the consignment of any goods which have been carried on the railway shall deliver to a railway servant an account in writing signed by such owner or person, or by such consignee, as the case may be, and containing a description of the goods sufficient to determine the rate which the Corporation is entitled to charge, in respect thereof and the conditions of carriage under which it will accept the goods.
(2) If such owner, person or consignee neglects to give such an account, the Corporation may-
(a) in respect of goods which have been brought for the purpose of being carried on the railway, agree to carry the goods and charge a rate not exceeding the highest rate which may be in force at the time on the railway, for any class of goods; or
(b) in respect of goods which have been carried on the rail way, charge a rate not exceeding such highest rate.
(3) If an account delivered under subsection (1) of this section, is materially false with respect to the description of any goods to which it purports to relate, and which have been carried on the railway, the Corporation may charge in respect of the carriage of the goods, a rate not exceeding double the highest rate which may be in force at the time on the railway, for any class of goods.
(4) If any difference arises between a railway servant and the owner or person having charge, or the consignee of any goods which have been brought to be carried or have been carried on the railway with respect to the description of goods of which an account has been delivered under this section, the railway servant may detain and examine the goods.
(5) If it appears from the examination that the description of the goods is different from that stated in an account delivered under subsection (1) of this section, the person who delivered the account, or, if that person is not the owner of the goods, then that person and the owner, jointly and severally, shall be liable to pay to the Corporation, the cost of the detention and examination of the goods.
(6) If a person required under this section to give an account of any goods, wilfully gives an account which is materially false, he shall be guilty of an offence and, in addition to the liability to pay any rate or other charge herein before provided in respect of the goods, shall be liable on conviction, to a fine not exceeding N100.