The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Hameed Ali

  • Customs to officially deploy e-auction platform – Official

    Mr Joseph Attah, Public Relations Officer, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says in a matter of days, the service will officially deploy electronic auction platform for Nigerians.

    Attah announced this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.

    He said that interested Nigerians who wanted to be part of the system should approach the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to acquire the Tax Identification Number (TIN).

    “I told you earlier that the electronic auction platform is ready and undergoing a User Acceptability Test (UAT).

    “In a matter of days, it is going to be officially deployed for Nigerians.

    “Those who want to be part of this system should approach the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to acquire the tax Identification Number (TIN). That is what it takes, they should get that ready,”Attah said.

    On bonded terminal licence, Attah said that NCS was ready to license operators who secured a N50 million bank bond to operate a vehicle terminal.

    He said that the Service was ready to begin issuance of licence, adding that there were already positive responses from the public.

    “A lot of people have indicated interest and the process is on-going.

    “ NCS is ready for the issuance of licences to people who are interested.

    “What it takes is for interested persons to acquire a big land, fence it and have Customs section within; a workstation with connectivity and computer system that can easily connect to the Customs server.

    “Such person will also be required to enter into a bank bond of N50 million.

    “He or she will now apply through the Customs Area Comptroller of the command that he wants to site the terminal to the Comptroller General,” he said.

    NAN reports that Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), retired Col. Hameed Ali, rolled out the policy after banning the importation of vehicles through the land borders in January.

    On the recent removal of HND dichotomy in Customs, Attah said that the reaction had been positive and morale lifting across the commands.

    Attah said that with the singular decision, officers and men saying that the CGC had written his name in gold because he restored dignity, integrity and pride of the affected officers.

    “In my own view, reducing the rank of an HND holder because he does not have a B.Sc was not a perfect decision.

    “The CGC, in keeping with his reform agenda, has done what needed to have been done many years back.

    “ He has restored laughter and happiness and by the grace of God, we are expecting higher productivity,” Attah said.

  • Hood and monk: Senate versus Hameed Ali

    It is like a play dramatized on Broadway akin to the comic theatre of the absurd, a burlesque, a street staged variety show, yes all these rolled into one and more only partially describes the war of attrition against retired Col. Hameed Ali, the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS).

    This comic relief has temporarily eased Nigerians of the pangs of the nation’s economic maelstrom. And some of Nigeria’s best intellectuals have been at daggers drawn tearing at each other’s jugular justifying either the Senate or the NCS boss but most of them queuing on the side of the Senate.

    Some persons and groups even called for Hameed Ali’s immediate resignation if he refused to wear the customs uniform as the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Customs Service.

    I premise this piece on the fact that sensationalizing the case of the Comptroller General’s Uniform is uninformed, diversionary, escapist and a theatrical ploy to disguise the colossal failure of the Red Chamber to tackle problems created by them. Instead of creating chances to enhance democracy and the fulfilment of their electoral promises, these senators are embroiled in amassing choice personal items of exotic luxury for themselves and their families.

    Hameed Ali is just a circumstantial scapegoat unfortunately bearing the burden of the fallout of the bullet proof car imported with fake documents. The Senate President did not deny that the bullet proof Range Rover Jeep belonged to the Senate. His aides desperately argued that the Jeep was for the Senate and not for the Senate President. Even kids know that sugar melts so easily in the mouth.

    But why sensationalize Col. Ali’s uniform issue? The great 18th Century English Poet, Alexander Pope in his most ingenious, witty and delightful poem, “the Rape of the Lock” fumes at Belinda making a mountain of a molehill and at the same time wondering why a well-bred Lord should assault a gentle belle. Hear Alexandra Pope “What dire offence from amorous causes spring…… what mighty contests rise from trivial things”.

    I totally commit myself to Alexander Pope’s satirical lampooning of Belinda for causing so much furore over the loss of a strand of her hair.

    The Senate overstretched its vengeance streak to a callous and very insensitive limit by sensationalizing the uniform issue. Now tell me, is it fair to put the customs boss through such painful inquisition because of non-wearing of his custom’s garb?

    For great minds, the victory of the monk over the hood has been settled as far back as the 14th century by Geoffrey Chaucer himself when he refers to his monk in the Pardoner’s Tale as a “mainly man”. Geoffrey Chaucer here paints a freedom and result-oriented   monk who excelled in his democratic freedom to do what is right for the role he was created for.

    Hameed Ali fits squarely into the hood of Chaucer’s monk. This is because Chaucer’s monk wears a hood different from other monks and is in good shape with a “bald shiny head and face” as against the other monks who were thin and gruffy.

    So many pundits have tried to straight jacket Hameed Ali into several unsavoury genres. Some call him proud, peacockish, patrician, feudal lord, snobbish, violently stubborn, imperial lord. But Ali is none of the above. He is just a highly disciplined and patriotic Nigerian who was chosen for the customs top job because of his no-nonsense anti-corruption mien which he amply embodied even when he was in the Nigerian Army.

    The unseen and undeclared motive in this mock-heroic or burlesque is the problem of subjugation. Senate President Bukola Saraki is shocked that his gavel feels feeble and weightless before the custom boss and thus has tried all constitutional means to subjugate him to kowtow to constituted authority.

    What do Nigerians really want?  Is it the monk or the hood? Is it transparency or continued corruption? Nigerians should rally round Hameed Ali to reduce corruption in the Nigerian Customs Service to a barest minimum. In just 213 days, that is about seven months, the mufti wearing Ali boosted federal revenue with a whooping N903 billion, while our former CG paid in a paltry and criminal N2 Billion in three years. And yet Nigerians are shouting and “crucifying him instead of “Hosanna”.

    I think the Nigerian psyche has been bastardized, battered and warped by military rule to a state of apathetic passivity. Nigerians should arise and irrevocably denounce the pundits supporting our mortally discredited Senate to force Col. Ali to resign in order to elect a corrupt regime of brigands in the Nigerian Customs Service. This Senate leadership is not at ease with this tough-kicking customs boss, as the former duty-free facility extended to them by Abdullahi Dikko, the former custom’s boss has been thrown overboard by Ali. Now everybody must pay his or her customs duty whether high or low, whether Senator or Clerk.

    This present Nigerian Senate is the most empty, cacophonous and an excellent definition of uncontestable ribaldry. The last time I heard from the Senate, they were passing a bill banning facial  mutilation (tribal marks) which for most Nigerians is their  least worry. It is not only unimaginative and disingenuous but naïve to worry about tribal marks when very weighty national issues like budget padding, Boko Haram, Niger Delta etc. should be at the front burner. Is it any wonder then that the sponsor of this uncalled – for bill is no other than the head of the theatrical group of the Senate, Dino Melaye?

    The Nigerian Senate is the probably the highest paid in the world with a total package of $2,183,685 dollars per annum as against Sri Lankan Senators who earn $5,000 per annum. Even America, the world’s richest nation pays its senators a total package of $174,000.00 per annum. The Nigerian Senator gets N862,555,575.00 while the civil servant who voted him into power gets only N16,000.00 monthly or N192,000.00 per annum or an equivalent of $486 dollars per annum. This out-of-the world package for the Senator is exclusive of the proceeds of budget padding and huge payments for unexecuted contracts.

    It is also interesting to note that wearing of customs uniform for the Comptroller Generals started in 1981 as the first four customs bosses from 1964-1981 never wore customs uniform in the execution of their official duties. Senate President Saraki should therefore leave Hameed Ali alone for him to do the job he was appointed to do.

     

    • Nanaghan writes from Lagos State University, Ojo.

  • Customs restricts exit of rice from free trade zones – Official

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said it has restricted the exit of rice from Free Trade Zones (FTZs) in the country to ensure total compliance to the ban on the importation of rice.

    Mr. Joseph Attah, the Public Relations Officer of NSC told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, that the Service has taken its war against rice smuggling to the FTZs.

    Attah said that due to the high level of security along the border lines, some Nigerians were taking advantage of the status of the FTZ to smuggle rice into the country.

    “Just last week the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Col. Hameed Ali, issued a directive that no rice should exit from FTZ into the country. We know that the FTZ enjoys special status under the law.

    “It is known as a country within a country. That is why some items that are not allowed in the country are allowed by law to be imported into the country by the operators in the FTZ.

    “However, the NSC has discovered that some operators are taking advantage of the status of the FTZ. They now circumvent the law restricting rice importation through the land borders.

    “So if we block the land borders and allow operators of FTZ to bring in rice through the seaport into the FTZ and then exit into Nigeria, our efforts at the land borders will be in vain,” Attah said

    He explained that the FTZ was a land of its own, as such the law that apply to the land border should also be apply to the FTZ because it is a land, and “between the two borders, there is no seaport.”

  • Buhari, Dogara meet in Aso Villa

    Buhari, Dogara meet in Aso Villa

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday met behind closed doors with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    It was also gathered that the Senate President, Bukola Saraki was expected to join the meeting.

    Dogara arrived the Villa at exactly 12 noon.

    The meeting may not be unconnected with the face-off between the Executive and the legislative arms of government.

    The grey areas included the summons of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Hameed Ali, who was to appear in uniform, the rejection of Ibrahim Magu as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and the extension of tenure of a Permanent Secretary by the President which the House of Representatives is currently kicking against.

    The Presidency last week set up a committee to meet with the leadership of both Chambers of the National Assembly to reach a compromise on the issues.

    The committee chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has membership including ex-lawmakers in the cabinet.

    The meeting was still in progress at the time of filing this report.

  • Customs’ C-G wants clearing agents to reduce delay in cargo clearance

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has advised clearing agents to collaborate with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to fight corruption and reduce delay-time  in cargo clearance at the ports to facilitate trade.

    The Comptroller-General of Customs, retired Col. Hameed Ali, gave the advice when he visited the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) headquarters in Lagos.

    Ali said that if the agents had a fruitful synergy with the NCS, it would put an end to all the challenges militating against their operations at the ports.

    He assured the clearing agents that the service would organise a stakeholders’ meeting that would be attended by selected leaders of the associations to proffer solutions to problems affecting seamless cargo clearance at the ports.

    “I am appealing to the clearing agents to support President Muhammadu Buhari in his agenda to stop corruption and I hope our meeting would bring positive results to our operations.

    “I am also appealing to both  the NCS officers and the clearing agents to always search their consciences  and ensure they do the right things at all times,” Ali said.

    He said that the service would look into the complaints of multiple check points.

    Ali said that apart from delaying cargo movement, the check points had assisted the service to intercept 661 riffles and other seizures due to lack of proper examination at the ports.

    According to him, if Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) is well documented, the system will not reject it.

    He urged clearing agents to engage in honest declaration to avoid their documents being queried.

    The C-G acknowledged the need for continuous enlightenment on Customs’ cargo processing to assist both operators in removing all the teething problems militating against 48-hour cargo clearance at the ports.

    The National President of ANLCA, Mr. Olayiwola Shittu, urged the management of NCS to assist the agents in solving challenges affecting cargo clearance at the ports.

    Shittu said that the operations of clearing agents and the NCS were related, saying that trading zone operation, which is where they process documents for PAAR,  was affecting cargo clearance.

    Shittu pleaded with NCS to stop duplication of PAAR documentation, saying which led to additional payments in clearing goods at the ports.

    He advised the NCS boss to also stop multiple alerts by some officers at the examination units as well as locking of Customs pin numbers.

    Shittu said that the NCS should sanction dishonest shippers found to be engaging in false declaration and not agents who assisted in clearing cargoes.

    He suggested that the service should look forward to a new system of cargo clearance to stop extortions by both parties.

    Shittu said that “ANLCA, Nigeria is the regional headquarters of International Customs Brokers and it keeps abreast of information on cargo clearance around the world.

    “I will like the NCS management and some members of our association to visit Ghana to observe how their Customs’ operate while clearing vehicles at the ports.

    “Ghana’s revenue on vehicles received a 60 per cent boost in a year of operating seamless method of clearing vehicles from their ports,” he said.

    Shittu, however, said the association would support the NCS in fighting against corruption and facilitate trade at the nation’s ports. 

     

  • Customs CG unfit to occupy public office – Senate

    Customs CG unfit to occupy public office – Senate

    The controversy trailing Senate invitation of the Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Col Hameed Ali (retd), worsened on Wednesday.

    The upper chamber declared the Customs boss unfit to hold public office anywhere in the country.

    The lawmakers further resolved to ask Ali to immediately throw in the towel in the interest of good governance and allow rule of law to prevail.

    The Senate also came hard on the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, for allegedly advising Ali to shun Senate invitation.

    The resolutions were made after a closed session where issues concerning the senators’ insistence that Ali should appear before them in uniform were exhaustively discussed.

    It was a charged session where senators took turns to criticise Ali for his effrontery not to honour the Senate invitation.

    The lawmakers concluded that Ali deliberately refused to honour the invitation to appear in Senate using “orchestrated pending suit as a cover.”

    Briefing by the Comptroller General of Customs and Excise in line with Senate resolution was listed in Order Paper as one of the legislative businesses of the day.

    Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, informed the Senate after the closed session that the Customs boss failed to appear.

    He said they received a letter on Tuesday from the AGF asking the Senate to stay action on Ali’s invitation due to a court process on the invitation.

    Ekweremadu asked the Senate Clerk, Nelson Ayewoh, to read the letter reference Number HAGF/NASS/2017 volume 1/28.

    The letter read: “Re: Suit Number FHC/ABJ/CS/207/2017 Mohammed Ibrahim (ESQ) Versus Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (retd) and four others

    “I wish to formally intimate you that I am in receipt of a letter dated 20th, March 2017 wherein I have been served with an originating summons in respect of the above subject matter (copy attached).

    “The originating summons is seeking among other declarations whether the oversight functions of the National Assembly extends to compelling and/ or giving directive to the first defendant to wear uniform”

    “In line with the principles of rule of law, court decisions or most importantly, the declarations sought have been deeply rooted in the constitutional provisions; I hold the view that this matter is sub-judice.

    “In view of three above, it is the interest of justice and rule of law to stay all actions in this case until the constitutional issues raised in the matters are resolved by the law courts. I wish to further intimate you that as a defendant in the said suit, I intend to file processes and pursue it to a logical conclusion.

    “Accept my warm regards. Signed, Abubakar Malami, SAN, Hon. Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.”

     

     

  • Uniform controversy: lawyer sues Senate

    Uniform controversy: lawyer sues Senate

    An Abuja-based lawyer has approached a Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking an order to restrain the National Assembly from compelling retired Col. Hameed Ali, Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) from wearing uniform.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Mohammed Ibrahim, the plaintiff in the suit, made copies of the process available to newsmen on Tuesday.

    The suit listed other defendants to include the Comptroller-General of NCS, the NCS, the Senate and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).

    The plaintiff is seeking a declaration of the court that the oversight functions of the National Assembly did not extend to compelling, mandating and enforcing the first defendant to wear uniform before performing his duties.

    He is also seeking the court to declare that the first defendant, who is not a commissioned officer of the NCS, is not mandated by law to wear the service’s uniform.

    Ibrahim further asked the court to declare if Ali’s appointment made pursuant to Sections 5 and 171 of the Constitution could be subjected to the provision of Customs and Excise Management Act or any other law.

    The plaintiff, therefore, urged the court to decide whether the first defendant’s appointment, having been made pursuant to the provisions of the constitution, could be subjected to the provisions of other laws.

    He also asked the court to explain whether there was any legal provision that prescribed the wearing of uniform as a condition precedent by the first defendant in view of his appointment under Section 171 of the constitution.

    He asked the court to decide whether the first defendant, not being commissioned custom officer, could be mandated to wear the service’s uniform for the performance of the duties of Comptroller-General.

    The plaintiff further urged the court to decide whether every directive or power hitherto exercised by the first defendant while not in uniform was null and void.

    Ibrahim had also asked the court to decide whether, in view of Section 88 (1) of the constitution, the senate could summon the first defendant having not published a resolution to that effect.

    NAN reports that the defendants are mandated to, within 30 days after service of the originating summons on them appear in court. (NAN)

  • I will obey court order, stay away from Senate – Customs CG

    I will obey court order, stay away from Senate – Customs CG

    The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Hameed Ali, on Tuesday said he will obey court order and stay away from the Senate.

    Ali, who was walked out from the Senate last week for not appearing in uniform, was due to appear again before Senate on Wednesday.

    But, according to him, somebody has gone to court over the issue, while the court had ordered status quo to be maintained.

    Ali, who was cited at the forecourt of the Presidential Villa after attending a meeting at the State House, spoke with State House correspondents.

    He said “The case is in court already. Somebody has sued us. It is subjudice. I have gotten my writ of summons and they said status quo should remain ante which means nothing should move until the court makes a pronouncement.

    “A private individual sued all of us, he wants an interpretation of the section that is in contention. I don’t want to talk so that I am not held in contempt of court.”

     

  • Customs announces code number for vehicle duty clearance verification

    The Comptroller-General of Customs, retired Col. Hameed Ali, on Tuesday announced a code number for efficient and effective vehicle duty clearance verification.

    Ali disclosed this at a media stakeholders meeting in Abuja.

    Ali said that the essence of the meeting was to have a roundtable with stakeholders to come up with  solution to avoid causing hardship to Nigerians in regards to duty payment on old vehicles and verification.

    He said that customs had taken further step to ensure that Nigerians, who wanted to verify the authenticity of their customs duty clearance, could do so at the comfort of their homes with the use of their mobile phones.

    “For effective and easy customs duty clearance verification, you can dial or send SMS to these numbers 094621597 with your vehicle C-number, the year you paid the duty and the port or location where the vehicle came through into the country.

    “Immediately all that information is given, just in five minutes you will get a response whether your vehicle duty clearance is genuine or not,” Ali said.

    He said the essence of the numbers was to ensure stress free verification, to motor dealers and innocent Nigerian vehicle owners.

    According to him, for easy traffic flow, the last number which is 7 in the digits 094621597 can be either changed to 8 or 9, to get response faster with different customs personnel on duty at every point in time.

    Ali said that Nigerians misunderstood customs intention regarding duty payment on old vehicles, adding that the excise was actually meant for motor dealers.

    He added that customs later decided to give innocent private vehicle owners, who after verification, might find out that their vehicles had no genuine duty clearance to take advantage of the 60 per cent rebate.

     

  • I won’t appear before Senate Wednesday – Customs CG

    I won’t appear before Senate Wednesday – Customs CG

    Comptroller General of Customs, Hameed Ali has said he will not appear before the Senate on Wednesday.

    Ali confirmed this at media parley with Editors in Abuja on Tuesday.

    He said, based on a writ of summons he received Tuesday on a case filed by a lawyer at an Abuja court, it would be subjudice for him to appear before the Senate on the pending issues before them which are also part of what was before the court.
    He 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”.
    Ali also spoke on other matters, confirming that highly influential Nigerians have been stopped from wielding influence to illegally bring expensive items including exotic vehicles into the country without paying appropriate duties.