The Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs
Service , Col. Hameed Ali (retd . ) , has dropped
his earlier plan not to honour the summons of
the Senate .
A reliable source close to the leadership of the
Senate told one of our correspondents on
Tuesday that Ali was advised to honour the
Senate invitation in order to avert a clash
between the Legislature and the Executive .
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 .
A source told The PUNCH 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 . 30 pm .
He first had a short meeting with the Majority
Leader , Senator Ahmad Lawan , before moving
to Saraki ’ s office , where they had a closed- door
meeting .
Security operatives shielded the Customs boss
from journalists when he was approached for
comments after the meeting .
He left the National Assembly at 6 . 45 pm .
The letter was dated March 14 , 2017 , and was
delivered to Saraki after the plenary .
According to the source , the Customs DG
disregarded his first letter to the Senate , in
which he informed the Senate of his intention
not to appear before the lawmakers on
Wednesday .
“ He wrote a second letter after the Presidency’ s
intervention .
‘‘ There are more chances now that he will
answer the Senate ’ s summons tomorrow.
People are now seeking soft landing for him , ”
the source said .
Unlike the first letter which was signed by an
Assistant Comptroller General , Ali personally
signed the second letter .
In the second letter , the Customs DG made no
reference to the first letter .
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 . ”
Senators berate Ali over planned boycott of
invitation
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 /8 S /R / 09 / 29 ) of 9 th 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 , 15 th
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 .
“ The Comptroller General of Customs must
appear tomorrow. ”
Saraki , after asking if there was any lawmaker
against what Lawan and Manager said , and
none differed , stated that Ali must appear in
uniform before the lawmakers on Wednesday
as earlier requested by the legislature .
He said , “ I don ’ t think there is the need for us
to prolong this issue and the position of the
Senate is clear: he should appear tomorrow as
directed and in uniform as in the earlier
resolution . And we are waiting to see him here
tomorrow by 10 . 30 am. ”
After the plenary , the Chairman , Senate
Committee on Media and Public Affairs , Senator
Sabi Abdullahi , while briefing journalists ,
however , described the reason cited by Ali for
his impending non - appearance as an insult to
the Senate .

Good move