Time up for Customs CG, Hameed Ali at Customs House as Senate fumes
The emerging twist in the ordinary invitational meeting from the Nigerian Senate to the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) seems degenerating to bigger issue.
This is as the Upper Chambers on Wednesday, declared the embattled Comptroller-General of Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) unfit to hold any public office.
Accordingly, Ali has been urged to resign from office, following his refusal to wear his Service uniform.
The Senate’s decision followed a closed-door session, where lawmakers brainstormed on the issue.
Business Hilights investigations based on the revelations of Senator Marafa from Zamfara State showed that Ali may have been dodging the Customs uniform based on a narrow minded perception that having worn Military uniform adjudged to be the most respected in Nigeria and retire, putting on another paramilitary uniform will be a slap on his personality.
This finding was recently seconded by Gen. Jemibowen who in an interview said it will high sense of ridicule for Ali to after wearing Army uniform, come down so low to wear Customs uniform.
The emerging btwist seems to have emanated from the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, for originating a memo informing Senate that appearing as scheduled will amount to contempt because there had been an originating summons from an Abuja Federal High Court seeking to get constitutional clarifications on whether the Cg is under any statutory obligation to wear the matching uniform of the CG of Customs in performing his job.
The letter, Wednesday put the Red Chambers presided over by Deputy Senate president under serious confusion which compelled it to pronounce that he is not fit for the job after all.
The said letter from Malami advised the lawmakers to maintain status quo ante on the appearance of Ali pending the determination of the substantive originating summons.
But what seems like another season of Executive/Legislative differences is emerging as Senators Wednesday, criticised the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN) for writing the legislature to suspend action on a policy by the Nigeria Customs Service over a litigation.
The lawmakers describe the move as interference in the activities of an arm of government.
While agreeing that a letter be written to President Muhammadu Buhari to report his appointees, the lawmakers described Malami and the Comptroller General of Customs as unfit for their positions.
It was yet clear if the said letter to the Presidency had been written and dispatched before the end of legislative business Wednesday.
