The comptroller general of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) Hameed Ali has been asked by the Senate to reappear before it on Wednesday, March 22, in his customs uniform.
The senate, presided by Ike Ekweremadu, the deputy senate president, took a voice vote on Ali’s refusal to appear before the house in uniform, and many voted against listening to him on policies, until he appeared in uniform.
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.
The policy was later reversed and Attah released a statement saying “the proposed motor duty payment, though in line with the provision of Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) Cap C.45, LFN 2004 should be put on hold while the Senate Committee on Customs & Excise interfaces with the NCS for further discussions”.