Senate lambasts, rejects Ali’s appearance in mufti

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NIGERIA: THE Senate on Thursday sent away the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Col. Hameed Ali (retd), when he appeared before the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly in mufti.

The Senate had earlier directed Ali to appear before it in NCS uniform, particularly after he failed to appear on Wednesday.

The Senators, who were visibly angry on seeing Ali appearing in mufti, contrary to their resolution, asked why he did not appear in “appropriate” uniform to brief them on the now suspended policy on duty payment.

Shortly after his arrival, the Senate unanimously agreed to send Ali away to return next Wednesday in Customs uniform after the lawmakers, who had earlier castigated him, adopted the motion moved by George Sekibo.

After Ali’s arrival and observation of protocols, the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided at the session, asked: “Coming was just one part of our invitation, another part is that you wear uniform. Why are you not in uniform?”

The Customs boss responded by asking Ekweremadu to allow him refer to the letter of invitation sent to him on Wednesday, which “did not connote that I should wear uniform.”

But, Ekweremadu said that the Wednesday’s letter was in furtherance to a prior one which directed Ali to appear in uniform before the lawmakers.

“More importantly, this is official. We have expected military chiefs and the Inspector General of Police and they all wear uniform,” he stressed.

Ali responded: “My not wearing uniform does not breach any law.  No law, to my knowledge, that compels me to wear uniform. There is no law that says in doing my service, I have to wear uniform.”

The Deputy Leader, Bala Na’Allah, who made reference to the customs and excise law, stated that there is law that made it compulsory for Ali to wear Customs uniform.

Other lawmakers, who included Aliyu Wakil (APC-Bauchi), Olamilekan Solomon (APC-Lagos), Barnabas Gemade (APC-Benue) and Barau Jibrin (APC-Kano), spoke and condemned Ali.  They insisted that Ali must wear uniform, particularly at the next visit to the Senate.

Ekweremadu, after contributions from fellow lawmakers, explained that Section 2 of the customs law make provision that all officers, including comptroller-general, must wear uniform at all times.

He declared: “As number one officer, you should lead by example.”

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