The running battle between Customs boss and the Senate has taken a new dimension as the Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria have declared, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd.), Nigeria Customs Service boss unfit to hold a public office and ultimately demanded his resignation as Customs boss. The Senators have resolved that Ali should resign his post after he again failed to appear before the lawmakers as directed by the upper house of legislature on Thursday, March 16.
The Senators added that the Customs boss should not have stayed away from briefing the Senate because Nigerians wanted him to explain his controversial Customs policy. The lawmakers argued on Wednesday, March 22, 2017 that Ali’s refusal to show up because of the letter the clerk of the Senate received from the office of the attorney-general of federation Abubakar Malami directing the lawmakers to leave him alone because the matter was in court amounted to interference in its duties.
Senator Dino Melaye of Kogi West said: “What we heard from the attorney general is an insult. How can the attorney-general that we screened in the House tell us how to carry out our duties? This is the first time in the history of black Africa that the attorney-general is telling the Senate what to do.”
“This is not an injunction but a mere court process by a third party that ran to court and the attorney-general wants us to stop our work. Our rule says that a matter which is already in court cannot be discussed here but not that a matter that is on our floor and an individual quickly ran to court … haba!”
“Based on the provisions of the Customs Act and the Pension Reforms Act 2004, Ali was too old to hold a public office because he was above 60 years and had worked in public service for over 35 years. Hameed Ali is above 60. He is not qualified to hold the position of the Customs comptroller general. I therefore moved that Ali be declared unfit and told to resign.”
Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe added that: “Lest we forget, the Customs made an obnoxious policy and it was in this process that the Senate invited Ali to explain his policy and not because of any vendetta.”
Senator Isah Misau also said: “The enemies of Nigeria are in the presidency. They are trying to distract the president from doing his job. They are giving him the wrong advices and throwing obstacles in his way in order to disrupt his administration. For instance when the President went on vacation for about 49 days, there were no Boko Haram attacks but immediately he returned, they have started the attacks again to distract the president.”
The Senators equally decided to send the attorney-general a warning letter to desist from interfering in legislative matters. Also, a motion was moved to send the Senate’s resolution to the House of Representatives for concurrence.