Senate Insists On Customs Boss Appearances, Today

The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Col Hammid Ali (rtd) has informed the Senate that he  can not appear before Upper Chamber today as scheduled
The CG in a letter signed by an assistant Comptroller General of the Customs to the Senate yesterday informed the law makers that the date given to CG to appear before the Senate over the retrospective duty payment on vehicle coincided with the management meeting of the Customs.
The letter also requested the Senate to reschedule the meeting for another date.
Senate who spoke on the contents of the latter described the actions of the CG as brazen disrespect for the institution of the Senate while the Senate unanimously resolved again that the CG must appear before it unfailingly as scheduled in his appropriate uniforms.
The Law makers also noted that the integrity of the Senate is being tested, stating that the CG Customs excuses were no acceptable.
Confirming the Senate’s resolution, the Senate President Bukola Saraki ruled that the Custom boss is still expected to appear today in the Upper Chambers in full Customs uniforms by 10.30am
The Acting Chairman of EFCC, Ibrahim Magu is also scheduled to appear before the Sente for screening today.
At plenary, the president of the senate also read a letter from Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo requesting for the amendment of the FCT 2016 Appropriation Act
Meanwhile, the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service, Hameed Ali,yesterday evening held a closed-door meeting with Senate President Bukola Saraki, hours after it appeared a showdown was imminent between the Senate and the retired army colonel.
“He (Mr. Ali) has come and gone,” a Senate President’s office insider told newsmen at 6:40 p.m.
Earlier on Tuesday, Mr. Ali had written the Senate, notifying the lawmakers of his intention not to appear before them as scheduled because he had to attend a customs management meeting slated for Wednesday, same day he was expected at the Senate.
But the lawmakers passed a resolution, reaffirming last Thursday’s decision that Mr. Ali must appear in uniform by 10:30 a.m, today.
But afterwards, he wrote a second letter, this one directly to Dr. Saraki, spokespersons for the Senate President confirmed.
The Cable exclusively reported the content of the second letter which informed the Senate President of the decision to review the policy on vehicles without duty payment, but recommended legal opinion on the compulsion to wear uniform to appear before the Senate.
The Cable reported, quoting Mr. Ali’s letter: “May (I) respectfully refer to your letter dated 9 March and inform Your Excellency that the decision on payment of customs duties by vehicle owners who do not have them as prescribed by law is currently being reviewed. The goal of the review is to take a broad additional input from the stakeholders and the public. I will welcome the opportunity to avail the senate of our findings.
“Regarding to wearing of uniform, I wish to advice that the senate avails itself of the legal basis of its decision to compel me to wear uniform. I am similarly taking legal advice on this issue so that both the senate and I will operate within the proper legal framework.”
The new development is strongly suggestive of Mr. Ali’s readiness to appear before the Senate tomorrow, but he is very unlikely to appear in uniform.
According to our source, the meeting with Dr Saraki was to “water the ground” ahead of his appearance tomorrow.
“He will appear but he may not wear uniform,” said the source. “Then, as you can see he has said the service is reviewing the policy on duty payment.”
Our correspondent  gathered that President Muhammadu Buhari prevailed on Mr. Ali to appear before the Senate as scheduled, stressing that he does not want further executive-legislature friction.
Presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina, declined comment on the president’s intervention.
But Customs’ spokesperson, Joseph Attah, informed our correspondent that his principal was involved in “further communication” with senators about the stand-off.

Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi, Abuja