Senators deny Customs boss audience, tell him to reappear in uniform

The senate Thursday refused to give audience to Hameed Ali, comptroller general of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) because he did not appear before it in his customs uniform as directed. The senate took a voice vote on Ali’s refusal to appear in uniform, and more senators voted against listening to him except the obeys their directive on wearing the customs uniform.

While a number of senators were of the opinion that the house should be lenient with the comptroller general, others were firm in their resolve to have Ali carry out their directive. Ali Wakili, senator representing Bauchi South, took a side with Ali, asking the senate to temper justice with mercy and proceed with the matters at hand, but George Sekibo, representing Rivers East, said the Ali must reappear before the senate, dressed in uniform.

Magnus Abe, senator representing Rivers south-east, asked Ali to honour the request of the senate and don his uniform, in order to preserve the image of NCS and other government institutions of such nature.

Ekweremadu then subjected the debate to a voice vote, which swung against Ali.

Ali was not given audience to explain the controversial policy on customs duties, which was the major reason for his invitation to the house.

Customs had given owners of vehicles, whose duties had not been paid, a deadline of April 12 for payment, threatening to prosecute those who do not comply with its directive.

“The comptroller-general of customs, Col Hameed Ibrahim Ali (rtd) has approved a grace period of one month, between Monday 13th March to Wednesday 12th April 2017 for owners of all vehicles within the country whose customs duty has not been paid to do so,” Joseph Attah, NCS’ spokesman, had said this in a statement.