Senate turns back Customs CG over uniform No law compels me – Ali Options for Customs boss
The faceoff between the Senate and the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Hameed Ali, over the wearing of uniform continued yesterday.
The Senate asked him to appear at plenary yesterday in uniform but he showed up in mufti.
Senators said they would have none of it and sent him away with a directive to return on Wednesday in his uniform.
The customs boss and senators have been exchanging brickbats over the implementation of vehicles duty collection.
The policy also drew public ire forcing the Customs to suspend it, but that did not appease the Senate.
Senators last week resolved that the customs boss should appear at plenary yesterday with a proviso that he should do so in uniform.
Ali, a retired army colonel has never worn the customs’ uniform since he was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari.
During his appearance yesterday, Ali wore a white kaftan and a cap, a development that angered the senators.
Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over plenary, asked why he was not in Customs uniform as directed.
In his response, Ali referred to the Senate letter summoning him, which he said did not require him to wear uniform. Besides, he said there was no law that compels him to do so.
“My not wearing uniform is not contrary to the Customs Act. I don’t have any law before me that says I should perform my duties wearing uniform,” he said.
But Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah (APC, Kebbi) referred the Customs CG to the agency’s Act, saying he must put on its uniform to perform his function.
“Let me refer you to section 7 of the Customs and Excise Act. Section 7 (2) in particular says “Any proceeding for an offence under this law will be taken in the name of Comptroller General. The intendment of this is that it has given you legal power in your capacity as CG.
“Section 8 of the same law says “For the purpose of carrying out or enforcing the provisions of the Customs and Excise law, all officers shall have the same powers, authorities, privileges as given by law to police officers...” he said.
He said based on the Act, Ali must wear uniform to perform his functions as CG.
For his part, Senator Ali Wakili (APC, Bauchi) said the CG be given another chance to go back and re-appear in uniform.
Senator George Sekibo (PDP, Rivers) cited some sections of the constitution and moved that “the CG be given another date, next week Wednesday, to come back in uniform and address the Senate so that the Senate will not be ridiculed.”
The motion was unanimously adopted after its secondment by Senator Barnabas Gemade (APC, Benue).
At the end of the session which lasted about 40 minutes, Ekweremadu said: “I believe there are certain things that your officers may take for granted. As the leader, you must lead by example. Your officers can wake up to say they can’t wear uniform because there is no law on that.
“The reason why we have to meet you is because you simply suspended the policy, which means it can still come back. We have to hear from you and get back to Nigerians.”