Senate To Fire Customs Boss

The lawmakers in the Red Chamber declared unanimously that Ali must go because he was unfit to hold public office. This followed a unanimous adoption of a four-point prayer after reading of a letter sent to the senate by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Mr Abubakar Malami at plenary.

The Senate had last Thursday summoned Ali to appear before it on Wednesday in Customs’ uniform bearing the designation of his office and rank to brief the lawmakers on the policy of payment of customs duty
on vehicles.

According to it, Ali is not fit to be addressed as Comptroller-General of Customs after refusing to wear the service’s uniform. The Red Chamber also accused the AGF of trying to stop it from carrying out its legislative responsibilities as enshrined in the 1999 constitution, especially in section 4, 5 and 6 that define separation of powers.

It held that the action of AGF was against Sections 88 and 89 of the constitution which empowers the National Assembly to carry out investigation on any person or authority. Accordingly, the Senate concluded that it was sending a strong-worded letter to the executive arm of government, with the resolution on Ali attached to serve as deterrent to others who may want to flout the same constitutional provisions.

Debating on the matter yesterday, Senator Dino Melaye described as abnormality for an arm of government to stop another arm of government from carrying out its legitimate duties. He said the action of AGF Malami was uncalled for given the importance of the office he was occupying.

He said, “Where did the AGF derive his powers to authorize or direct the Senate on what to do? He has no such powers to imply by inference on our constitutional responsibility.

"This is the first time in history of black Africa that an AGF would write to the senate authorizing and compelling it to put a hold on its duties.

“What we have is not even a court order but a mere process filed in the court by a third party asking us to abandon our constitutional responsibility. It is another dark day for democracy. The integrity and
independence of the legislature is on the line”. He noted that the Senate Standing Order provides that it should stay action on court orders not court process, even as he said Ali’s action was a clear indication that he was not fit to occupy such office.

Insisting that going by the Civil Service Rule, Ali ought to have resigned his position because he was above 60, Melaye advised President Muhammadu Buhari to make Ali ascind his submission, Senator Ibrahim Gobir (APC, Sokoto) who said it was important for Nigerians to know that the reasons given by Ali for not wearing Customs uniform were unjustified suggested that the senate should write to Buhari, asking him to call the AGF to order. “We should write a letter to the president to ask that the AGF stop interfering in our duty. 

Ekweremadu also blasted the AGF, saying
“it is important that a message be sent to him. “We are a different arm of government that we also obey the law, but we obey the law in accordance with our Constitution. This matter has to be resolved. The President also has to caution his appointees in making sure they obey the law and Constitution. We act in harmony for the interest of our people”,

Meanwhile, there are strong indications that the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) will next week lift the suspension placed on vehicles duty verification policy and begin implementation.