BEVERLY HILLS, March 15, (THEWILL) – The Senate has resolved to compel the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali (retd), to appear before the lawmakers on Thursday.
The Senate also vowed to issue warrant of arrest on Ali if he fails to appear at the Senate chamber to brief senators on some Customs policies, notably the introduction of import duties on old vehicles.
The senate unanimously passed the motion at their plenary on Wednesday as Ali failed to honour the invitation of the Senate which asked him to appear before the Senators on Wednesday as Ali’s hearing was the first on the order paper of the senate for the day.
Senate President, Bukola Saraki, declared that “nobody is above the law” after the senate passed the resolution insisting that actions like summons would be avoided if government agencies respect the constitution.
“This action that we have taken – by the senate in my view would have been easily avoided if these institutions begin to respect the constitution and its processes and procedures,” he said
“This senate would definitely continue very hard to defend to avoid disruption against the constitution.
“Nobody is above the law. We hope that the CG customs will make himself available 10am tomorrow morning and make his case.”
THEWILL recalls that the senate had summoned Ali to appear before it in uniform over customs’ plan to seize vehicles without paid duty but Ali wrote to the lawmakers, saying he would not be available on Wednesday because he had a management meeting to attend.
Ali later made a surprise visit to the national assembly complex on Tuesday evening, and had a private meeting with Saraki and sent another letter saying he was bereaved; hence he would not make it to the upper legislative chamber on Wednesday.
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