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Tag: Senate

  • SGF and Senate confraternity 

    The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is proving to be the lord of the manor.  It seems to have become a lord unto itself.  This Nigerian Senate, no doubt, is no respecter of the Nigerian people and, of course, President Muhammadu Buhari.  To discerning minds, the Senate has become a confraternity that is working against the interest of the people of Nigeria.

    This is the conclusion that a reasonable man will arrive at.  Take the case of Ibrahim Magu, the twice rejected Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).  Magu’s name was submitted to the Senate by the President for confirmation as required by the Constitution.  The Senate, acting on a report from the Department of State Security (DSS), rejected Magu’s nomination, citing adverse security report as its reason.

    The President, having thoroughly investigated the allegations against Magu, re-submitted his name for confirmation as EFCC Chairman.  The Senate, the second time, went ahead and rejected the nomination, regardless of Mr. President’s letter to them, absolving Magu of any wrong doing.  Rather, the Senate told Nigerians that the DSS had forwarded another report to it on the March 12, confirming to the Senate that Magu is not fit and proper to be EFCC Chairman. It is noteworthy that the DSS is an agency of government under the Executive.

    The second case is that of Hameed Ali, a political appointee and the Comptroller-General of the Customs Service.  Ali, an unblemished, Spartan, diligent and incorruptible army officer was asked by the Senate to come and explain a policy that seems not clear to the public.  He was, however, directed by the Senate to appear in uniform.  Today, the Senate seems to be more interested in seeing Ali in uniform than in the explanation he has to give on the seemingly unclear policy of arresting car owners who did not pay the correct customs duty on their vehicles.  As expected of a Senate that is more interested in the form and NOT the substance, Ali was ignominiously walked out of the hallowed chambers of the Senate simply because he did not appear in uniform.

    However, legal luminaries and respected legal practitioners have opined that the Comptroller-General of Customs does not need to appear in uniform.  According to them, there is no law in the statute book demanding that wearing uniform by the Comptroller-General of Customs, a political appointee and not a serving staff, is a condition precedent to appearing before the Senate.

    Apart from this, the Nigerian Senate is more concerned about the uniform and NOT the performance of this honest gentleman who, within a short time, has sanitised the Customs Service by reducing corruption, ineptitude and crass opportunism.

    Let us take the third case.  I mean the case of David Babachir Lawal, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).  In a manner suggesting witch-hunt and mischief, the Senate levelled serious allegations against the person and the office of the SGF.  It went further to ask the SGF to resign.

    The Senate, it must be noted, did not invite Lawal to come over and state his own side of the story simply because the Senate had made up its mind on what to do.  Clearly, the Senate did not give the SGF a fair hearing.  After convicting the SGF, the Senate passed a resolution, directing the President to sack the SGF.

    President Buhari, a consummate democrat with respect for the rule of law and due process, mandated the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice to investigate the allegations and report back to him.  The Attorney-General took his time and painstakingly did a thorough investigation and returned a verdict of not guilty.  The President has no reason to doubt the Attorney-General.  He, therefore, considered the case closed.  The Senate, however, will have none of that.  The Senate is now coming full circle.  It is coming through the back door to reopen the case simply because they either do not like the face of the SGF or because they have a personal score to settle with him.

    It must be noted that the Senate has not accused the SGF of non-performance.  It also did not give the SGF a fair hearing because the Senate never asked the SGF to come forward to explain his perceived role in the alleged contract scam.  Rather, the Senate went on a vendetta journey, thinking the opportunity has presented itself for them to nail the man whose closeness to Mr. President they do not like.

    In all these three cases, it is clear to  discerning minds that the Senate is not interested in making laws that will impact positively on the lives of the people of Nigeria; rather, they are more interested in rubbishing President Buhari.  If the truth must be told, the Senate does not seem to like the change mantra of this administration.  Rather, the Senate may be more interested in the business -as-usual style of the previous administration.

    Let me say it the umpteenth time, that this reopening of the case of the SGF is a very clear case of vendetta, mischief and opposition to the choice of Lawal as SGF.  The Senate is indirectly fighting President Buhari.  More than this, the Senate is not interested in the welfare and well-being of Nigerians; rather, it is only interested in settling scores and fighting perceived enemies.

    What all these suggest in totality is that the Senate has turned itself into the prosecutor, the judge and a confraternity that is out to frustrate President Buhari.

    What is left for these gentlemen to do is to, perhaps, approach Courts of competent jurisdictions to save them from the jaws of the Senate confraternity.

    Luckily, the Judiciary is also being sanitised and the new Chief Justice of Nigeria has promised that the Courts will dispense justice without fear or favour, ill-will or affection.  There is every reason to believe Justice Onnoghen, a man of impeccable character and a judicial officer of immeasurable experience.

    Meanwhile, the SGF should take solace in the fact that he has won in the court of public opinion.  This is because Nigerians have seen the truth; and the truth has set him free.  Magu and Ali will also be vindicated in the fullness of time.

  • Senate as self-proclaimed friend of the masses

    I am not sure many Nigerians, except perhaps the miracle seekers among us who believe they can reap what they did not sow, expect much joy from Saraki/Ekwerenmadu’s 8th Senate. For throwing his party into disarray after trading off its hard-earned victory at the 2015 polls, it was obvious to many that Saraki was motivated by reasons other than service.

    The leadership of the Senate represented by Saraki has not only defied his party, rendering it impotent, it has moved on to defy public opinion whether in frittering away over three hundred million naira to buy state-of the-art Toyota land cruisers , paying themselves outrageous salaries, and earning pensions as serving Senators against public service rule. The Senate’s tools include blackmail and self-help tactics.

    Thus, hiding under the anonymity of ‘ayes’ and ‘nays’, two weeks back, the Senate, for the second time, rejected the nomination of Ibrahim Magu as the substantive chairman of EFCC. There is a record to show Magu is a conscientious, efficient and dedicated public officer His achievements have been celebrated locally and internationally.

    Reflecting on the Senate conspiracy against Nigeria last week, Itse Sagay said: ”Since Nuru Ribadu left, we have not had a man with such sterling qualities as Ibrahim Magu.” But that counts for little to a Senate that often forgets power goes with responsibility. As Palladium, who is not a fan of Magu’s methods, also put it last Sunday:”those who rejected him for the second time last week knew he was the right man for the job, they knew they were putting down a public figure who seemed to have prepared for this job all his life, they knew it would be difficult to find someone so imbued with his kind type of commitment but the conspirators had too much to lose to care.”

    Magu was rejected on the basis of DSS uncomplimentary report, even after the man had robustly defended himself before the Senate. But the Senate, which has often resorted to blackmail and self-help when its interest is threatened, predictably attached more weight to   the words of DSS than the embattled Magu. The problem, however, was that there were two contradictory DSS reports.  For failing to invite the leadership of the DSS to appear before it to explain the manifest contradictions and inconsistencies in its reports, the “Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) believes the Senate seems to have acted mala fide by picking and choosing the least favourable DSS report to reject Magu’s nomination.”

    To seal Magu’s fate, Dino Melaye, quoting the SSS report dated March 14, stated: “ Magu has failed the integrity test and will eventually constitute a liability to the anti-corruption stand of the current government.” For most Nigerians, it is the Senate that has failed the integrity test. Nigerians don’t need to be reminded that, for many of the Senators facing corruption charges, the fear of Magu is the beginning of wisdom.

     

    Senate vs. Ali

    Once again, the on-going faceoff between the Senate and the Comptroller- General of Nigeria Customs will appear to be about self-help. To begin with, in his examination of the legal validity of the controversial Nigeria Customs policy and the legal competence of the Senate to summon the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) to justify the policy, activist lawyer, Femi Falana has said:  ”the policy is illegal as the NCS is completely estopped from collecting additional duties from vehicle owners who had paid the duties charged at the time of importation.” The choice before the management of the NCS, according to him, therefore, is not a suspension of the illegal policy but its outright annulment without any further delay. This, of course, according to him, does not preclude the authorities of the NCS from arresting and prosecuting highly placed individuals who usually forge importation documents.

    And also quoting relevant section of the constitution (88 (2 ) he   submitted that “the Senate lacks the vires to summon the CGC on policy matters,” since the decision of the Senate has nothing to do with making laws or exposing corruption, inefficiency or waste in the disbursement of funds appropriated by it. “The summoning of the CGC therefore constitutes not only a blatant violation of the Constitution, there is also “no legal, or moral basis for the arrogance of power being displayed by the Senate, whose leadership has recently been linked with the illegal importation of a bullet-proof limousine with fake papers to evade the payment of appropriate customs duties.

    But Melaye, speaking for the Senate, says   the battle of the Senate against the Customs chief is over “Pervasive corruption and incompetence in the Customs Service.” He puffs and huffs about the ”vibrant, sincere, patriotic excellent Senate under the leadership of the irremovable president of the Nigerian senate.” The problem, however, is that Nigerians are already familiar with a Senate that has demonstrated over time that it is deficit in honour and integrity by resorting to self-help each time its members are called upon to face their own demons. For instance,  rather than allow their leader to defend his honour before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, 84 like- mind Senators passed a vote of confidence in their leader, they also insisted the president of the Tribunal cannot try their leader because one of his personal staff was once indicted for corruption and, finally,  they alleged their leader would not receive fair hearing because of some past comments by the judge. Two years on, they have continued to prevent their leader from defending his honour and integrity.

    The Senate’s case is not helped by an on-line platform, the Sahara Reporters, which revealed that on January 11, 2017, the Nigeria Customs impounded a Range Rover Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) worth N298m that would have normally attracted a duty of N74m but on which a measly N8m was paid. The online publication further alleged that “Shortly after the seizure of the car, the Nigerian Senate mounted a vigorous attack on the Nigeria Customs Service, demanding that the agency stops any further efforts to confiscate vehicles found to have evaded payment of duties.”

    In defence of the Senate leadership, one can argue its political enemies bent on witch-hunting are once again on the prowl. The tragedy for the Senate and its leadership, however, is that in the past such witch-hunting produced many witches. It is also like when Melaye puffs and huffs about the democratic setting of their current 8th Senate, Nigerians are bound to ask:  What was democratic in a process where Saraki admitted hiding in a car for 4 hours, and sneaking into the Red Chamber to be adopted by acclamation by 49 opposition members and a handful of his supporters, effectively disenfranchising 51 of his fellow APC Senators who were at the period having a meeting with the president?

    And when Melaye assaults our sensibilities with his ”vibrant, sincere, patriotic excellent Senate under the leadership of the irremovable president of the Nigerian Senate,” fighting “pervasive corruption and incompetence in the Customs” on “behalf of the poor masses, the talakawas and the mekunus,” the masses they are trying to seduce know better that with friends like the Senate, Saraki and Melaye, they need no enemies.

  • Senate revolution consuming own children?

    Perhaps it was Nigeria’s first parliamentary coup: Bukola Saraki’s emergence as president of the Senate, against his own party’s official choice. Those were halcyon days, when the spoils of war were sweet and mushy!

    Saraki got his coveted prize. Ike Ekweremadu, of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), got festooned as deputy Senate president — again, another first in parliamentary opportunism: a minority party clinching the Senate deputy presidency.  Well, good old Aik is still enjoying his lolly!

    Not so, Mohammed Ali Ndume, erstwhile Senate Majority Leader — or Senate Leader, for short.  In the APC rapprochement, he became the sacrificial lamb for Saraki to retain his seat, no matter what.  He gave way to Ahmed Lawan,  the original APC choice for Senate president. Well, lollies are not forever!

    But did Ndume take it in good faith?  It would appear so, though some growl from his corner suggested he didn’t exactly like the idea of use-and-dump.  Still, nothing serious; just some verbal skirmish.

    But the real revolution, of the Senate power royals consuming their own, appears breaking out: and all of the “big boys”, Saraki, his growling side-kick, Dino Melaye, out-of-favour Ndume and even, still-in-favour Ekweremadu, are bang in the vortex!  It all has to do with the hoopla over Col. Hameed Ali (retd), Comptroller-General of Customs, over his uniform or non-uniform.

    Somewhat along the way Ndume drew the Senate’s attention to media allegations that the Ali brouhaha ensued because Saraki allegedly imported a Range Rover sport utility vehicle  that the Customs impounded for allegedly dodging import duty.  That, Ndume suggested, triggered the Ali-must-appear-in-uniform drama, in a if-you-Tarka-me-I-Daboh-you fashion!

    On Melaye, Ndume referred to a media report alleging his Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) was a fakery, with the report dragging Melaye into a bribe-for-certificate scandal.

    As it happened, Saraki was out, in the dock, at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).  Ekweremadu, presiding, referred the matter to the Senate Ethics and Privileges Committee, asking the body to investigate and revert in four weeks.

    A brave Melaye first said Ekweremadu acted right, since no one was above the law. Besides, he recused himself from the committee, rightly reasoning that he would only attend if called upon, since the allegation involved him.  Beautiful!

    But later events are revealing a “rofo-rofo” (dirty) warfare, teeming with crude and rude name-calling.

    By insisting on the probe, Ndume cited precedences of former Senate presidents, accused of misdemeanours being probed.  Still, who knows — is Ndume having his own back at Saraki that used and dumped him to clinch to the Senate presidency?

    And Melaye?  He hasn’t quite disappointed in his rude and crude histrionics, dubbing Ndume as “Boko Haram” senator.

    Ekweremadu?  So far, all quiet on his front.  But Saraki might accuse him of ingratitude or even worse, perfidy — for trotting him off for a probe, when he was supposed to have his back?

    It’s early days yet. But the rising fireworks may well suggest a Senate power cabal set to fall upon itself.

    Hardball has booked a ringside seat.  Should  hostilities break out, reports, hot, fresh and smoking, would come from that vantage site.

  • SGF declines Senate’s invitation, goes to court

    SGF declines Senate’s invitation, goes to court

    The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir David- Lawal, on Wednesday informed the Senate that he will not appear before the committee probing his alleged involvement in the diversion of funds for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North East.

    The SGF was invited by the Senate ad-hoc Committee investigating the Mounting Humanitarian Crisis in the North East to appear before it on Thursday.

    At its sitting on October 4, 2016, the Senate debated a motion “Mounting Humanitarian Crisis in the North East,” and a committee was constituted to investigate the matter.

    The committee was asked to conduct a public hearing on the matter in order to ascertain how much has been released to the Presidential Initiative on the North East (PINE).

    It was also to ascertain how the funds have been utilized from inception as well as to investigate the alleged diversion of grains and other food items from the strategic grain reserves, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other sources of support for the IDPs.

    The committee held a three- day public hearing between December 6 and 8 last year.

    Some invited stakeholders reportedly refused to attend the hearing.

    The SGF, who was specifically indicted by the committee in its interim report, claimed that he was not given a fair hearing on the matter.

    Lawal was alleged to have misapplied billions of naira meant for the care of displaced persons in the North East.

    The report also said Lawal compromised his position by allegedly awarding contracts to a company he had interest in.

    Due to the perceived lack of fair hearing, the Senate mandated the ad-hoc committee to re-invite those involved in the matter.

    The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Shehu Sani, in a statement said “in order to give them (stakeholders) a fair hearing, the committee has resolved to conduct another public hearing on the matter.”

    Senator Sani’s letter to the SGF to appear before the committee was dated March 15.

    But Lawal in a letter titled: “Letter of invitation” and addressed to Senator Sani told the lawmaker that he would not appear before the committee because he had gone to court to challenge his invitation.

    The Lawal’s letter obtained by our reporter read in part, “Dear Distinguished Senator Shehu Sani,

    “Your letter of invitation to appear before the above committee refers.

    “I wish to kindly request that you draw the attention of other members of the committee that I will not be able to appear before the committee primarily because I have gone to court to challenge the invitation among others.

    “Please find attached the court documents.

    Please accept my highest regards.

    “Engr, Babachir David Lawal.”

     

     

  • 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.”

     

     

  • Update: Senate calls for Customs CG’s resignation

    Update: Senate calls for Customs CG’s resignation

    The Senate on Wednesday called for the resignation of the Customs Comptroller General , Col Hammed Ali who failed to show up as directed.

    The Senators said Ali is unfit to hold public office.

    A closed-door session had earlier been held  on a letter from the Attorney General of the Federation, (AGF), Abubakar Malami that the Chamber should  stay action on the invitation of the   to appear in uniform.

    The appearance of the Comptroller General was listed in the order paper of the Senate as the fourth business of the day  despite the AGF’s letter to suspend his invitation following a court summon.

    The item on the Order Paper was captioned “Briefing by the Comptroller-General of the Customs and Excise’’ and slated to be moved by the Leader of the Senate, Sen. Ahmed Lawan.

    Ali was asked to appear before the Senate today (Wednesday) in uniform following his appearance in mufti last Thursday.

    The Customs CG on Tuesday disclosed that he would not honour the Senate’s invitation following a suit filed over the matter.

    ”Somebody has sued us. It is subjudice. I have got my writ of summons and they said status quo ante should remain, which means nothing should move until the court makes a pronouncement,” he said. The plantiff is Mohammed Ibrahim, a lawyer.

    The senate had on Thursday asked Ali to appear before it at 10 a.m. on Wednesday in Customs uniform to explain the rationale for directing that vehicle owners should be pay duty on their cars.

    Prompted by Ali’s seeming disrespect by refusing to appear before the senate as directed, senators at exactly 10.32 a.m. went into a closed-door session apparently to assess the situation and make a resolution.

    The senate had first invited Ali to appear before it on March 8  to brief it on the proposed policy for payment of Customs Duty by vehicles owners, no matter the age of the vehicle.

    However, Ali did not honour the invitation on the ground that he had a management meeting.

     

     

     

     

  • Senate angry as Customs chief Ali shuns invitation

    Senate angry as Customs chief Ali shuns invitation

    ‘I won’t appear because of order’

    Court can’t stop us, says Senate

    Customs chief Hameed Ali will not appear before the Senate today.
    Senators have been insisting that the Comptroller-General should appear “in uniform” to explain the planned enforcement of duty collection on old vehicles.
    Col. Ali told reporters in Abuja yesterday that he would stay away from the Senate in deference to a court order.
    Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami also wrote to the Senate, urging it to suspend its invitation to the Customs CG because of the court matter.
    But the Senate insisted that no court could stop it from carrying out its constitutional duty. A source said the lawmakers might consider issuing a warrant for Col. Ali’s arrest.
    Col. Ali told reporters after attending a meeting at the Presidential Villa that “the case is in court already”.
    ”Somebody has sued us. It is subjudice. I have got my writ of summons and they said status quo ante should remain, which means nothing should move until the court makes a pronouncement,” he said, adding:
    “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.”
    The plantiff is Mohammed Ibrahim, a lawyer.
    The originating summons in the suit with the National Assembly and the Attorney General of the Federation as defendants seek, among many other things, a clarification on “whether the appointment of Ali by the President, having been made pursuant to sections 5 and 171 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) can be subjected to the provisions of the Customs and Excise Act or any other law; whether there is any legal provision that prescribes the wearing of uniform as a condition precedent by the 1st defendant (Ali) in view of his appointment under Section 171 of the 1999 Constitution (as emended).
    Col. Ali also told some reporters: “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”.
    Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, confirmed the receipt of the AGF letter. “There is a communication, although I have not seen the content. So, I won’t be able to make any categorical comment on it, “he said and insisted that the court had no power to stop the Senate from conducting its constitutional duty.

  • AGF to Senate: stay action on CGC’s invitation

    AGF to Senate: stay action on CGC’s invitation

    •Why I won’t appear before senators, by Ali

    Will Customs Comptroller-General (CGC) Hameed Ali appear before the Senate in Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) uniform today? Will the Red Chamber make good its threat and issue a Warrant of Arrest against the retired Colonel if he fails to appear? None of this may happen if the parties maintain the status quo as advised by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation. A suit filed at a Federal High Court in Abuja foreclosed the much-expected drama yesterday, report Eric Ikhilae  and Onyedi Ojiabor and Austine Ehikioya.

    ‘No regret blocking elite’s access to waivers’

    COMPTROLLER-GENERAL of the Nigeria Customs Service Hameed Ali yesterday confirmed the suspension of waivers, reduction or non-payment of duties on imported items to highly-placed Nigerians and influential politicians.
    Speaking at an interactive session with reporters in Abuja, Ali, a retired Colonel, explained why he insisted that all duties must be paid without giving undue advantage to businessmen and influential Nigerians as it was the practice in the past.
    According to him, there was no ambiguity on what the law says on what should be paid by rich who mostly import exotic cars and luxury goods with the belief that they can always get waivers due to their status.
    He said many of such cases have been stopped and the items impounded because the affected importers decline to pay appropriate duties.
    His words: “With regards to the importation of high valued goods, including cars, it happened in the past. Our big men from the political arena used to bring in vehicles. In some cases, it is cleared for them. They just dump the Bill of Lading and walk away and the vehicles are cleared and delivered to them.
    “There is no way we can allow it to happen. I am sitting here, by virtue of Section 171 of the Constitution which gave Mr. President to appoint anybody. If my coming will not add value to what Customs does, then I have no business being here. I don’t think the President would have appointed me if he knew that my coming will create an avenue for business as usual.
    “There is an idea behind my posting to Customs. It is to make sure that those ills that have been identified are blocked as much as possible. So, I have done that to the extent to which we can with the cooperation that I have gotten from the management and officers.
    “But I must say also that there is no way that I can beat my chest and say 100 per cent all customs are compliant. The true position is that yes, when I came in, one of the most difficult task was to deal with our own big men in quote, not only in the line of import but also area of vehicle importation but also our big time business men.
    “We discovered that they have in the past, created a situation whereby they are the beneficiaries of waivers and concessions. Huge amount of money is lost through waivers and concessions and when I came in, that was one area I felt we should not let go because if John is allowed to hoard things as a trader and he is made to pay duty, why should Ali, because he is a big business man that has status in the society be given waiver when the law is clear about it?
    “And so, we decided we were going to face that area squarely and make sure that everybody is made to pay duty and I think the President agrees with us and the political will is behind us. As at today, apart from the statutory waivers which the law allows, the President since his arrival has not approved a single waiver. And so we have been able to stop it.”
    Ali, who admitted having a ‘robust’ working relationship with his supervisor Finance Minister Mrs. Kemi Adeosun over the NCS operations, said systemic corruption still existed within the system, adding that everything was being done within his power to eradicate it.
    He said: “We have corrupt officers amongst us up till tomorrow and that is my pain because these are people who refuse to accept that things must change. There is still connivance with these people and that is why we get to see what we see. If you remember, the 661 pump action guns were seized not at the port.
    “It was cleared by our own officers. It was only when it was being driven to the final destination that the second layer of our defence accosted the vehicle. If it had escaped the layers, it would have gone to the final destination. So, in the last two years, it would be impossible to say we have changed the attitude of our officers.
    “We are working on it and doing everything we can. I have discovered that it is difficult to change people. You must come in all dimension and 17,000 people can’t just change in one day. I will like to admit that up till tomorrow, there are still big men who bring exotic cars and connive with our people and in some cases, pay nothing at all or pay less and get their vehicles out.
    “We have accosted some; we have some under our jurisdiction and we are working on it. I need your support because information is critical to what we do. If you have information like this, you let us know and be rest assured that we will bring the law to bear on anyone that goes against it,” he said.
    On the payment of Customs duties on cars and the decision to enforce the law, Ali said the policy has been put on hold for now, pending when the NCS would reach an agreement with stakeholders on the modus operandi, adding that he never envisaged the kind of protest that greeted the decision to enforce the law on vehicles brought into the country in the last seven years with the payment of Customs duties.

    THE Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Abubakar Malami, yesterday urged the Senate to stay action on its invitation to the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Col. Hameed Ali, to appear today in uniform.
    The AFG intervention on the controversial invitation of Ali by the Red Chamber was informed by a pending suit at an Abuja Federal High Court.
    A source confirmed that the AGF’s letter urging the Senate to stay action on Ali’s invitation had been received in the Office of the Senate Clerk, Mr. Nelson Ayewoh.
    According to the source, some lawyers went to court on behalf of Ali and obtained an injunction to stop the Senate from compelling the CGC to appear before it in uniform.
    It was learnt that the lawyers contended that President Muhammadu Buhari as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces has not been wearing uniform, nor Dr. Bukola Saraki as the number three citizen decking himself in regalia as a presiding officer of the Senate.
    The power of the Senate to perform oversight function on the NCS, are also being challenged by the lawyers.
    Foreclosing his appearance before the senators today, Ali, said he would not honour the upper legislator’s invitation because of a writ of summons sent to his office by a court.
    The Customs’ chief has been invited to over his directive on the collection of duties on imported cars. He said the directive has been misinterpreted by Nigerians, stating that the policy was in line with the extant laws guiding the NCS operations.
    He said as one of the defendants in the case filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja by a lawyer, Mohammed Ibrahim, on his status as a mufti-wearing CGC, that it would be subjudice for him to appear before the Senate which has compelled him to appear in Customs’ uniform.
    The originating summons, which has the National Assembly and the AGF as defendants seek, among other prayers, a clarification on “whether the appointment of Ali by the President having been made pursuant to Sections 5 and 171 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) can be subjected to the provisions of the Customs and Excise Act or any other law; whether there is any legal provision that prescribes the wearing of uniform as a condition precedent by the 1st defendant (Ali) in view of his appointment under Section 171 of the 1999 Constitution (as emended).
    Ali, who was at the Presidential Villa yesterday told State House correspondents after a closed-door meeting, explained what informed his decision not to appear before the Senate.
    He said that since the matter was already in court, it would amount to contempt of court for him to appear before the upper chamber of the National Assembly as it had demanded.
    His words: “The case is in court already. Somebody has sued us. I have gotten my writ of summons and they said status quo ante should remain; which means nothing should be done 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,’’Ali said.
    He went on: “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 (today) until the court decides otherwise.”
    The Chairman, Senate Committee on Media & Public Affairs, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, who confirmed the AGF letter, insisted that no court has the power to stop the Senate from conducting its constitutional duty.
    Abdullahi said that the Senate had received the letter from the presidency written by AGF Malami through the Clerk of the Senate. He, however, said there was no cause for alarm over the letter.
    Explaining that the leadership of the Senate was yet to discuss the letter, Abdullahi foreclosed any direct response to the AGF letter.
    The bone of contention, he said, now has to do with the issue of wearing uniform and not Ali appearing to tell the Senate the proposed policies of the Customs.
    Abdullahi said: “There is a communication, although I have not seen the content. So, I won’t be able to make any categorical comment on it.”
    The Senate last Thursday turned Ali back from the chamber for refusing to appear in his Customs uniform as earlier directed.
    He was was asked to go back and dress in proper Customs uniform and appear before the lawmakers today.
    The CGC was invited by the upper chamber to throw more light on the planned policy of retrospective payment of duty on vehicles.
    It is not clear the decision the Senate will take in today’s plenary as Ali said yesterday he would not by honouring the invitation.
    The upper chamber had threatened to issue a warrant of arrest against Ali if he failed to appear today.

    Ruling party to broker truce

    The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday spoke of planes to broker a truce in the Senate/Ali face-off over the latter’s refusal to wear the Nigerian Customs Service NCS).
    In a statement by its national spokesman Bolaji Abdullahi, the party expressed concern over the lingering misunderstanding between the Senate and the Customs’ chief
    It reads: “The All Progressives Congress (APC) has keenly observed the controversy that has trailed the invitation extended to the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) by the Senate.
    “We have watched the issues with growing concern and the expectations that they would be resolved in a manner that would be agreeable to all the parties involved.
    “However, we wish to state that at this point, we have found it necessary to intervene. Accordingly, the National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, will lead the party’s peace mission to the leadership of the National Assembly and the concerned party member. We are confident that the party’s effort to broker peace would resolve the matter amicably.”

    So much noise about uniform

    Last Thursday, the Senate turned back the Comptroller-General for not appearing in Customs uniform. Ali was invited explain his action on the proposed implementation of the controversial policy on payment of import duty on old vehicles.
    Senators, by a voice vote, directed Ali to return to the National Assembly today in proper uniform designated for the office of CG of the NGS.
    Their decision followed a motion by Senator George Sekibo (PDP, Rivers East), who relied on Section 89 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and seconded by Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu.
    In his earlier response to the Senators, Ali told them that he had no knowledge of any law compelling him to wear uniform.

    Court urged to stop Senate’s insistence on CGC uniform

    The Federal High Court in Abuja has been asked to restrain the Senate from further compelling the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) Col. Hameed Ali (rtd.) to wear uniform in the discharge of his duties.
    The request is contained in a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/207/2017, filed before the court yesterday by a lawyer, Mohammed Ibrahim.
    The plaintiff is contending, among others, that it was not within the powers of the Senate to dictate to Ali, appointed by the President pursuant to his (President’s) powers under sections 5 and 171 of the Constitution, how to conduct himself.
    He argued that Ali’s appointment, having been made subject to the provisions of sections 5 and 171 of the constitution, was not subject to provisions of Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) or any other law.
    Ibrahim also argued that, Ali, not being a commissioned officer of the NCS, is not mandated by law to wear NCS uniform.
    He further argued that the oversight functions of the National Assembly (particularly, the Senate) did not extend to compelling and instructing Ali to appear before it in uniform.
    Ibrahim, who raised a series of questions for the court’s determination, urged it to, among others, declare that Ali’s appointment as CGC cannot be subject to the provisions of Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) or any other law.
    He also seeks a declaration that Ali, who is not a commissioned officer of the NCS, is not mandated by law to wear NCS uniform and that the oversight functions of the NASS does not extend to compelling and mandating Col. Ali to appear before it in uniform.
    The plaintiff prayed for an order of perpetual injunction restraining both the National Assembly and the Senate from compelling Ali to wear uniform in the performance of his duties.
    The defendants in the suit are the CGC, National Assembly Senate and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).
    The case is yet to be assigned to any judge for hearing.

  • Senate to probe Saraki, Melaye over bullet-proof car, certificate forgery

    Senate to probe Saraki, Melaye over bullet-proof car, certificate forgery

    ‘Senate President has nothing to do with importation of vehicle’

    Special Adviser to the Senate president on Media and Publicity Yusuph Olaniyonu has stated that the allegation raised by Senator Ali Ndume linking Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki to the importation of vehicle lacked basis as it was outright falsehood.
     Olaniyonu, in a statement, said from the facts and documents about the seized vehicle, it was obvious the Senate President had nothing to do with the importation of any vehicle.
    “A supplier was engaged by the Senate to supply a vehicle. While transferring the vehicle between Lagos and Abuja, it was impounded by the Customs. We believe that it is an issue between the supplier and the Customs because the Senate has not taken delivery. So, why is somebody trying to drag the name of Saraki into the issue?
    “The documents on the vehicle are there for the general public to view and make their conclusions. Now that the matter has been referred to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, all the facts will be out,” Olaniyonu stated.

    THE Senate has asked its Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to investigate its President Bukola Saraki for alleged importation of bullet-proof car with fake Customs duty certificate.
    It also mandated the committee to probe the allegation of certificate forgery levelled against Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West).
    The resolution to launch the investigation followed a motion of privilege by Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume (Borno South).
    Ndume drew the attention of his colleagues to a publication that Saraki sanctioned the invitation of the Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) to appear in uniform to throw light on the controversial import duty payment on old vehicles because the Service impounded his (Saraki’s) bullet-proof Range Rover Sport Utility Vehicle on the orders of Ali.
    On Melaye, Ndume referred the Senate to a publication by a national newspaper that Melaye did not graduate from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
    Ndume told the Senate that an online platform claimed Melaye did not obtain a degree in Geography from ABU, Zaria.
    The Borno South lawmaker, who prayed the Senate to investigate the issues, noted that there was nothing untoward about investigating the Senate President.
    He said a former Speaker of the House of Representatives Salisu Buhari was accused of certificate forgery and investigated to clear his name.
    Ndume added that a former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara, was also accused of corruption and investigated.
    He noted that Wabara was also given opportunity to clear his name.
    Katsina State Governor Aminu Bello Masari, he said, was also accused of certificate forgery and given opportunity to clear his name.
    He said another presiding officer of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, was also accused and investigated to clear his name.
    Ndume said: “This matter borders on our privileges. One has to do with Senator Bukola Saraki, the Senate President and it was reported in a paper; I have it here. The newspaper said the Senate is on vengeance after Nigeria Customs Service seized Senator Saraki’s bullet-proof Range Rover over fake documents.
    “My colleagues that are following events, particularly online, have seen or heard or read the rain of abuses on this Senate and the misconception of the fact that we invited the Customs boss based on a very unpopular policy that affects the people we represent, but now we are faced with this.
    “During the 4th Assembly, Salisu Buhari was accused of certificate forgery. He was investigated and determined after that. In the 5th Assembly, Bello Masari was accused of certificate forgery (secondary school). He was investigated and was cleared.
    “In the 6th Senate, Dimeji Bankole was accused of not having NYSC certificate, it was investigated and he showed his NYSC certificate.
    “Now, that brings me to the second matter in the National Assembly. In the 4th Assembly, Senate President Adolphus Wabara was accused of collecting a bribe and it was investigated and determined. So, a lot of precedence has been set.
    “Now, the second matter of privileges affects my colleague Dino Melaye and it is in the paper today? Therefore, accordingly, I will appeal we refer the matter to Ethics and Privileges to investigate so that our colleagues would be cleared and this Senate will stand as it supposed to.”
    After the plenary, Melaye described the issue Ndume raised about him as a welcome development.
    The Kogi West senator noted that democracy is about investigation, where no senator is above investigation.
    He said those bandying the report that he did not graduate from ABU were obsessed with him.
    He said Nigerians would not be surprised that one day the same people would say he is not a Nigerian.
    Melaye, however, assured he would submit himself to investigation as a law-abiding citizen of the country.
    He added that as a member of the committee saddled with the responsibility to investigate him, he would excuse himself from the committee, unless invited.
    Melaye, who said he would not be deterred by negative reports about him, noted that he has seven degrees already pursuing the eight one.
    He said ABU would not allow him to do higher degrees, if he did not have a degree certificate.
    Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the plenary, asked Ndume to lay the documents he has.
    Ndume submitted some newspaper publications.
    Ekweremadu referred the two matters to the Senator Samuel Anyanwu-led Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.
    He gave the committee four weeks to report back.

  • Senate begins probe of alleged misuse of IGR by MDAs

    Senate begins probe of alleged misuse of IGR by MDAs

    THE Senate Ad-Hoc Committee on Alleged Misuse, Under Remittance and other Fraudulent Activities in Collection, Accounting and Remittances of Internally Generated Revenue by Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) running into hundreds of billions of naira will begin hearing tomorrow.
    Senate President Bukola Saraki will inaugurate the committee.
    The committee of eight members with Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (APC, Lagos West)as chairman, was constituted on Tuesday, November 30.
    It followed a resolution by -the Senate to investigate the alleged misuse, under-remittance and other fraudulent practices in collection, accounting, remittances and expenditure of internally generated revenue by all Revenue Generating Agencies of Federal Government from January 2012 to December 2016.
    Explaining the slight delay in beginning the investigation, Senator Adeola said it was occasioned by the intervening Yuletide and the need to allow agencies concentrate on the defence of their budget estimates in the 2017 Appropriation Bill.
    He noted that with the process of the budget almost out of the way, the committee will have the presence of heads of agencies to throw light on their revenue generation and expenditure profiles.