The Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali (retd.), has dropped his earlier plan not to honour the summons of the Senate.
Ali, according to sources, was advised to honour the Senate invitation in order to avert a clash between the Legislature and the Executive.
Specifically, it was gathered that the Customs boss was advised by the Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senate, Ita Enang, to meet with Senate President Bukola Saraki ahead of his appearance before the Senate on Wednesday (today).
On Tuesday evening, Ali arrived at the National Assembly complex at 5.30pm and had a short meeting with the Majority Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan, before moving to Saraki’s office, where they had a closed-door meeting.
He left the National Assembly at 6.45pm without making any comment as security operatives shielded him from journalists.
Ali had told the Senate, in a letter, that he would not appear before the lawmakers on Wednesday (today) as his summons to the chamber coincided with the routine management meeting of the NCS.
The Customs boss requested the upper chamber of the National Assembly to fix another date for his appearance.
Ali’s letter, which was signed by an Assistant Comptroller General, Azarema Abdulkadir, was read to lawmakers at the plenary on Tuesday.
The Senate had, on Thursday, asked the Customs boss to appear before it “unfailingly” on Wednesday, stating that Ali would not be admitted into the chamber if he failed to appear in the uniform of the service showing his rank as the DG.
But Ali reportedly wrote another letter dated March 14, 2017, and was delivered to Saraki after the plenary, in which he disregarded his first letter and informed the Senate of his intention not to appear before the lawmakers on Wednesday.
The second letter read, “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 the wearing of uniform, I wish to advise 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.”
Earlier on Tuesday, the Senate had insisted that Ali, who had informed the lawmakers that he would not be able to appear before them, must show up before the legislators on Wednesday (today) as requested.
The lawmakers, who took turns to condemn the service for defying an order stopping it from implementing its new duty on old vehicles, resolved to “invite the Comptroller General of Customs to appear in plenary and in uniform.”
Senate President Bukola Saraki, who presided over the Tuesday plenary, directed the Clerk to the Senate, to whom Ali’s letter was addressed, to read it to lawmakers at the session.
The letter titled ‘Re:Invitation to brief the Senate,’ read, “I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter (with Reference Number NASS/CS/8S/R/09/29) of 9th March, 2017, on the above subject matter.
“I am further directed to inform you that the date given to the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service –Wednesday, 15th March, 2017 – to brief the Senate in plenary on the retrospective duty payment on vehicles in Nigeria has coincided with the fortnight meeting of the NCS management.
“Consequently, the Comptroller General is humbly requesting a new date from the distinguished Senate.
“As we await your favourable response, please be assured of the highest regards and esteem of the Comptroller General of Customs.”
While the Majority Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan, pleaded for a soft landing for the Customs boss, other lawmakers disagreed.
The aggrieved senators, who pointed out that the Customs’ management was not superior to the federal legislature, criticised Ali’s failure to personally sign the letter.
Lawan stated, “First, the excuse for not appearing tomorrow is because it coincided with routine fortnightly meeting of the management of the Nigeria Customs Service. My opinion is that that does not take precedence over the invitation by the Senate.
“Second, the letter was signed by someone else, not the CG. My opinion is: a letter coming to the Senate from the Customs, especially when an invitation was written to the Customs CG to appear here; he should have taken personal interest in writing and signing it; that would have given my judgment some sense of respect for the institution, not for us.”
Lawan, while pleading that the lawmakers postpone Ali’s appearance to Thursday, hinted that the part of the grievances against the postponement was that the Senate plenary would be aired live on Wednesday.
The Majority Leader said, “Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, I feel slighted and I am sure everybody feels the same. However, let me add that this Senate should, if possible, oblige the request for the extension, to show that we are different.
“Let’s take him on Thursday, if he is saying he can’t be available tomorrow. Two wrongs will not make a right. I know we feel hurt but distinguished colleagues, whether it is live coverage or not, Nigerians have interest in this and Nigerians will like to listen to the responses and explanations of the CG of Customs.”
In his submission, Senator James Manager, described the Senate as an institution built over the years.
“The integrity of this Senate is being tested. When letters like this are coming from executive bodies, the Senate must take a very firm stand.
“I disagree with my leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan, with the greatest possible respect. If the CG had written (the letter and it) was signed by him and, then, going further, if he had established personal contact with the President of the Senate through the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Customs, then, that would have been understandable.
“But, the man asked somebody else to sign this letter to the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This is very significant.
“This is an arm of government. Although the House of Representatives is there, this is the highest lawmaking body of this country and somebody like the CG (will be) writing a letter signed by somebody else, saying ‘I am directed’ to the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Certainly, this is not a matter of two wrongs not making a right.
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