The
Senate has called for the resignation of the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria
Customs Service, Hameed Ali.
The lawmakers said on
Wednesday that Mr. Ali was not fit to hold public office.
The call follows Mr.
Ali’s decision not to appear before the lawmakers in uniform on Wednesday as
directed by the Senate.
The Customs boss told
reporters on Tuesday that his decision not to appear was based on legal advice
after a Nigerian filed a case in court seeking the interpretation of a Customs
law on uniform for the Comptroller-General.
The Senate on Wednesday
rejected the letter by the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami,
asking the lawmakers to suspend discussion on Mr. Ali.
Mr. Malami’s letter was
read by the Clerk to the Senate at the plenary on Wednesday, just as the
lawmakers dissolved into committee of the whole to receive briefing from Mr.
Ali.
Mr. Ali and the
lawmakers have been at loggerheads over a Customs policy on retrospective
payment of customs duty on vehicles.
Although the Customs
Service has since suspended the directive, the lawmakers still insisted Mr. Ali
appears before them in uniform. The retired army colonel has not worn the
Customs uniform since he was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari.
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