BREAKING: Senate declares Ali unfit to hold public office, demands his resignation Customs boss

The Nigerian Senate has declared the Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd.) unfit to hold a public office and immediately demanded his resignation as customs boss.

Also read: I won’t be appearing before the Senate tomorrow - Customs Boss

The senate has concluded that Ali should quit his post after he refused to appear before the lawmakers for the second time as instructed by the upper house of legislature on Thursday, March 16, 2017.

Senators maintained that Ali's snubbed the instruction given to him because of the letter the Senate’s clerk received from the office of the attorney-general of federation, Abubakar Malami demanding the lawmakers to forget Ali’s case for now because the matter was in court amounted to interference in its duties.

Senator Dino Melaye, who was leading the debate said the letter was an insult.

Senator Melaye 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 duty. 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 is already in court cannot be discussed here but not that a matter on our floor, an individual quickly ran to court … haba!"

Melaye also said that based on the provisions of the Customs Act and the Pension Reforms Act, Ali was too old to hold a public office because he was above 60 years old and had already worked in public service for over 35 years.

Also read: I won’t be appearing before the Senate tomorrow - Customs Boss

The Senator said: "Hameed Ali is above 60. He is not qualified to hold the position of the Customs comptroller general.

"Abaribe moved that Ali be declared unfit and told to resign."

Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe agreed. He argued that "Lest we forget" Customs made a detestable policy, it was in this process that the Senate asked Ali to explain his policy.

Another Senator claimed that the enemies of Nigeria's progress are working against the President Buhari-led administration by giving him bad advices.

"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."

Following all the opinions and resolutions, the Senate also moved to send the attorney-general a warning letter to cease from meddling with legislative matters.

Another motion was moved to pass the Senate's resolution to the House of Representatives for synchronization.

Also read: I won’t be appearing before the Senate tomorrow - Customs Boss

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I won’t be appearing before the Senate tomorrow - Customs Boss

The Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali, has said he will not appear before the Senate on Wednesday, March 23, 2017.

Ali confirmed this at media conference with Editors in Abuja on Tuesday, March 21, 2017.

Hameed Ali

The CGC grounded his reason on an advice he received on Tuesday, about a case filed by an attorney at an Abuja court, it would be subjudice for him to go the assembly and appear before the Senate, while they have pending issues before them, which are also part of what is before the court.

Also read: BREAKING: Senate commenced investigations on Melaye’s alleged certificate scandal

Ali said: “Based on the advice from lawyers and briefing from the Office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice who is also a party in the suit, I won’t be appearing before the Senate tomorrow until the court decides otherwise”.

Speaking on some other issues, Ali confirmed that some highly influential Nigerians have been prevented from abusing the privilege they have, either political or social wise, by illegally importing expensive items including exotic vehicles into the country without paying appropriate duties.

Also read: BREAKING: Senate commenced investigations on Melaye’s alleged certificate scandal

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Putting on customs uniform will belittle Hameed Ali - David Jemibewon

David Jemibewon, who is a retired major general, has claimed that Hameed Ali is a fine military man and should not demean himself with customs uniform

Jemibewon says putting on customs uniform will be a step backward for someone who has worn the uniform of a member of the Armed forces

Rtd. Major General David Jemibewon

However, former aviation minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, says Ali was arrogant to have snubbed the Senate’s order to appear before legislators in customs uniform for an update on a controversial proposed plan on payment of duties for old vehicles

David Jemibewon, who retired as major general and also a former governor of defunct Western state, has said the request by the Senate that the comptroller-general of Nigeria Customs Service (CGC) appears before it in service uniform senators was needless.

According to Premium Time, Jemibewon defined Hameed Ali, a retired colonel, as a fine military man who ought not to belittle himself with the agency’s uniform, Premium Times reports.

Jemibewon, who once served as the minister of police affairs, said he would have quit if anyone had forced him to wear police uniform as a minister.

He stated: “It would be belittling the position of the uniform of a member of the Armed forces.

“There was no way anybody could have compelled me to wear uniform. I would have resigned,” Mr. Jemibewon said. “Even if the law said so I would have resigned.”

However, Jemibewon’s stance on the matter is in dissimilar to what happened when a former customs chief was appointed outside the agency in related way as Ali wore uniform.

Bello Haliru had said the instant he was appointed, he turned into a career customs officer.

Bello Said: “I knew I must comply with all rules and regulations of the organisation I am leading and that included wearing a uniform.”

Likewise, Haladu Hananiya, an ex-corps marshal of the Federal Road Safety Commission, put on uniform of the commission after his selection by former president, Olusegun Obasanjo.

This was in spite of the fact that Hananiya retired from the Nigerian Army as a major-general, years before his appointment to the FRSC.

When the above cases when thrown to the retired major General,, Jemibewon, commended the humbleness of Bello Haliru and Haladu Hananiya but maintain his ground.

Jemibewon also never denied that he unawareness on what Customs rules and regulations stipulate, but maintain that an Army officer should overhead a Customs’ uniform.

He said: “The highest patriotic body in any country in the world is the Army...You don’t expect someone who has risen to that position in the Army to wear customs uniform.

“Here is a man who has excelled in his military career and you’re asking that one to wear Customs uniform? I don’t see how that will ensure competence and efficiency."

However, a former aviation minister Femi Fani-Kayode has ridiculed the travails of the Customs boss, Hameed Ali at the Nigerian Senate.

Recall that Fani-Kayode tweeted, on Sunday, March 19, 2017, that Hameed Ali was egotistical to have overlooked the Senate’s order to appear before legislators in Customs uniform for a briefing on a controversial proposed plan on payment of duties for old vehicles. 

He said, he should have listen to the lawmakers.

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President Buhari should sack Hameed Ali now - NBA chief

The Senate on Thursday, March 16 walked out the comptroller-general of customs, Hameed Ali, for declining its order to appear in uniform.

The NBA VP maintains that Ali’s action amounts to disrespect, though some Nigerians say his rejection to put on the uniform does not matter.

Hameed Ali was walked out of the Senate

Monday Ubani, who is the vice-president of the Nigerian Bar Association, has asked the comptroller-general (CGC) of the Nigerian Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd) to immediately reassess his appointment for flouting the Legislature’s order.

The VP of the NBA who produces ‘Know Your Right’, an enlightenment programme for Nigerians, said Ali must demonstration discipline and respect for the Senate even though no law forces him to wear the uniform.

Ali was walked out from the Senate on Thursday, March 16, 2017 for failing to obeying the invitation of the lawmakers wearing the uniform of the service.

According to The Punch, Ubani is of the view that presidency should review Ali’s appointment if he refuses to wear the uniform of the agency he heads.

“There are people who have retired in the military and later appointed to head sister agencies, and they still wore that agency’s uniform.

“Someone like that was retired General Hananiyyah, who was appointed as the FRSC boss and he still wore the FRSC uniform.

“The Senate is being insulted by Ali’s supposed indiscipline. This is democracy and the Senate, as the institution representing the people, deserves some level of obedience. The way forward is for Ali to behave himself and respect himself.

“Ali is saying he wants to get legal advice, but why didn’t he seek the advice when taking up the appointment? Why is it now that he knows that he, as a head of a uniformed agency, has to appear before the Senate in uniform that he is seeking legal advice?

“There is no known law that Ali has flouted, but wearing uniform simply shows discipline, identification and respect for the agency one is heading.

“If Ali has been appointed to head an agency that wears uniform, and he says it is not his tradition to wear such, decency and discipline demand him to simply reject the appointment, rather than become the subject of controversy.

“If he insists on his refusal, what precedent is he setting for customs officials? To me, it is more than the issue of law, it is about national ethos and discipline.

“The way forward is for the president, who appointed him, to take the decision. He is an appointee of the president, and the president should decide what is best for him since he is not comfortable to wear the customs uniform."

“We were not consulted when he was appointed. Those who have the power to hire reserve the power to fire.”

“I have never heard that the head of the customs wears anything apart from the service uniform. It will look mischievous if the head of the customs wears caftan to review a parade.

“If someone knows he cannot conform to tradition of an institution, then he should leave. It is like a lawyer, who says he doesn’t want to wear wig and gown to the high court. Is that possible? You don’t expect a lawyer to go to court with babaringa.

“I think there is a law in customs Act that stipulates that uniform should be worn. Why would someone say because ‘I am a Colonel, I don’t want to wear uniform (of customs)’,” Ubani said.

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Customs boss, Hameed Ali walked out by Senate, ordered to re-appear in his uniform

The Senate, on Thursday, March 16, has walked out the Customs Comptroller General, Col. Hammed Ali from its chambers following his defiance in flouting its order.

Ali arriving the House of Assembly in Mufti

Recall that Ali was ordered to put on his Customs Service uniform when appearing at the senate today, Thursday but failed to do so and has been asked to return next week Wednesday, March 22, by 10AM in uniform.

The Senators told that Ali he should be a leader by example.

Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekeremadu had formerly queried the Comptroller General for not putting on his official uniform.

In Response to the query, Ali claimed that the letter inviting him did not suggest that he should appear in uniform.

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BREAKING: Senate enters closed session as Customs boss, Hameed Ali arrives in mufti

Ali arrives House of Assembly in Mufti

The Punch has just reported that Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd.) has flouted the order of the Nigerian Senate that he should appear before the upper house of legislature in the uniform of the service.

The Customs Boss was allegedly sighted in the National Assembly Complex today, Thursday, March 16, in a traditional attire (white in colour).

This is opposing to the directive of the Senate which had insisted on several occasions that he must appear before the legislators in uniform depicting his rank as the DG.

Recall that there was noise in the Senate on Wednesday, March 15 after failing to show up but rather sent a letter, saying he could not appear before the lawmakers because he was bereaved.

But the Senators pushed that aside and called on the Senate leadership to force Ali to appear before it on Thursday, March 16 or risk being arrested.

Some of the legislators who kicked at Ali's decision maintained that the institution cannot afford to join issues with him but will make him to do as the lawmakers want.

Senator Sekibo moved the motion that Ali be mandated to appear before the Senate as stated in the constitution. Sekibo was supported by the deputy senate president, Ike Ekweremadu

However, on Thursday, March 16, the lawmakers entered a closed door meeting at 10:45am, shortly after the plenary commenced.

It was unclear at press time, if the closed session was organised because of Hameed Ali's insubordination or not.

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'Wear uniform or resign,' - Senate to Customs boss

Hameed Ali

The Senate has asked the Hammed Ali, who is the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, to quit his job if he cannot appear before it in his uniform.

Recall that last Thursday, during plenary, the upper chamber made it mandatory for Ali to appear before it in his proper Customs uniform over the agency's plan to impound old vehicles that does not possess customs duty from April.

On Sunday, March 12, An APC Senator, Solomon Adeola, representing Lagos West, said: "If retired Colonel Ali cannot respect the Customs service or he's ashamed of wearing its uniform and rank of his position while appearing before peoples’ representatives, then he should honourably resign.”

The Senator also clarified that the Senate required Ali to wear his uniform in order to protect the organizational integrity and discipline in the agency.

At the Thursday session, Adeola had supported Senator Dino Melaye on the need for the Senate to check Ali's leadership skill.

He said the Customs boss is "carrying out the affairs of this agency as if he is the managing director or the commander-in-chief of this country."

In response to the instruction, the Comptroller General said he would not wear his uniform to the National Assembly, stating that he was not appointed to wear the uniform. Ali who has always been in mufti while carrying out official duties since his appointment.

Ali’s statement prompted Senator Adeola to say: "Military and paramilitary uniforms inclusive of ranks are part of the symbol of legitimate authority conferred on the wearer to carry out certain duties on behalf of the government.

"Except in covert operations, an officer in these organizations operating without uniform could be taken to be performing illegal duty or worse, be taken as not representing the institution at all. And as stated on the floor of the Senate in plenary, the Comptroller General is rank that can only be worn on uniform and not on mufti.

"The APC-led Government of President Muhammadu Buhari was elected on the promise of change, adherence to rule of law and renunciation of impunity in any forms.

“The story we hear daily is the arrogance and high-handedness of the CG and name dropping of the President. We had it on good authority of his reluctance to be answerable to the Minister of Finance as stipulated in laws of the land.

“We that were elected cannot look the other way while the people we represent are subjected to avoidable hardship orchestrated by an unelected appointee in a bid to cure the inefficiencies of the agency he leads. We are in a democracy."

The lawmaker emphasized that the Senate supports Buhari's anti-corruption initiative as well as effort to improve the country’s revenue in a bid to pull nation out of recession but warned that nobody should use personal agenda to drive public policy.

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Video: Customs Boss dares Senate, says he won’t appear in uniform

Hameed Ali  on TVC

The Comptroller General of Customs, Hameed Ali, has responded to order given to him by the members of the senate, to appear before the plenary on March 15, in his expected official uniform as a customs officer.

Speaking in an interview with TVC today, Ali says he was never appointed to wear uniform but to do his job effectively:

He said: "No! I was not appointed Comptroller General of Customs to wear uniform. Does Uniform work or the person behind the uniform?

"If we suspect that smuggled items are taken into your house, we have the right to cordon that house and go in to search. Am I doing my job or not? I think that should be what should worry the National Assembly."

Recall that the Nigerian Senator solidly came to agreement that Hameed Ali to appear before the house to give his reason for the new policy of Customs Service to verify import duties on old cars.

Also read: "Customs now acts like gangster" - Senate. Summons Customs boss, says he 'must appear in uniform'

Watch his interview with TVC below:

Now that Hammed Ali of @CustomsNG has answered all the questions, should the @NGRSenate still invite him? pic.twitter.com/kxWNHiSyHI

— TVC (@TVCconnect) March 10, 2017

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EFCC discovers another set of cars from ex-customs boss, Abdullahi Dikko

32-seater Nissan bus

It’s just about few days ago that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recovered about 17 exotic cars from one warehouse allegedly belong to a former comptroller-general of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Abdullahi Dikko Inde. Yesterday, February 28, 2017, another set of automobiles, motorcycles and tricycles, have been allegedly clutched from his grip.

According to The Nation, the second operation was carried out between Monday, February 27 and Tuesday, February 28 in a different warehouse said to be owned by the former customs boss.

The new discoveries includes 42 Cargo tricycles, 16 motorcycles, one 2013 model 32-seater Nissan bus, over 500 rug carpets ,one tipper truck and two fire-proof safes which houses some documents, N50 and N20 notes that amounts to N1,560, an iron stamp and polythene bags.

According to the report, Bappa Ibrahim who is the zonal head of EFCC in Kaduna, said that the anti-graft agency swung into action following a tip-off.

Bappa confirmed that the customs boss is currently under investigations and that the second set of chattels were recovered from another warehouse, located off Nnamdi Azikwe expressway, NASFAT 

village area in Igabi local government area, Kaduna state.

He said: “The fresh operation, which started on Monday, 27th February, 2017 till today is a continuation of last week operation, which led to recovery of 17 exotic vehicles.”

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