Senate, Customs Boss Heading for Showdown

Tue, Mar 14, 2017 | By publisher


BREAKING NEWS, Politics

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THE Senate and Hameed Ali, comptroller general of the Nigeria Customs Service appears to heading for a showdown, after lawmakers rejected Ali’s decision not to appear before the Senate on Wednesday, March 15.

Ali had earlier on Tuesday, March 14, informed the lawmakers that he would not appear as scheduled as he had the Customs management meeting already slated for the same Wednesday.

The Senate wants him to explain the Customs’ planned clampdown on vehicles that have no duty clearance.

But senators rejected his excuse. Leading the debate, Ahmed Lawan, Senate leader, said the excuse given by the Customs boss was not acceptable.

“The integrity of the Senate is being tested,” James Manager, PDP-Delta, said while condemning the way Ali’s letter to the legislators was addressed.

Members approved a vote called by Bukola Saraki, Senate president, to reject Ali’s letter, and therefore, mandated him “to appear in uniform tomorrow (Wednesday as scheduled) by 10:30 AM.”

The Senate had summoned Ali over Customs’ plan to impound vehicles that have no import duty clearance. It specifically asked him to appear in uniform.

But on Friday, Ali defended the plan, saying he would only honour the Senate’s summon if the invitation without wearing uniform. “I was not appointed comptroller general to wear uniform,” he said.

Ali, a retired colonel, was appointed Customs chief in 2015 by President Muhammadu Buhari, becoming the second to be so appointed from outside the service.

Under former military dictator, Ibrahim Babangida, Bello Haliru was also appointed head of Customs from outside the service.

—  Mar 14, 2017 @ 16:05 GMT

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