Senators to Customs C-G Ali: Get out! Your car, aircraft have official logo of Customs but you scorn uniform

Senators, on Thursday, turned back the Comptroller-General (C-G) of Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Col. Hameed Ali (rtd), for not appearing before them in the service’s uniform.
The Senators, by a voice vote, directed him to return to the Senate on Wednesday in proper uniform designated for the Comptroller-General of Customs.
Shortly before the resolution, some senators expressed concern over Ali’s defiance of the National Assembly’s order by appearing in mufti in spite of the letters sent to him, specifying that he should appear in uniform.
The upper chamber had, in the invitation to Ali to appear to explain certain decisions taken by the NCS, directed that he should appear in the Comptroller-General’s uniform.
Deputy Leader of the Senate, Bala N’Allah, recalled that letters were sent to Ali to appear before the senate to give explanations on the proposed payment of duty on vehicles by their owners.
He expressed displeasure with the comptroller-general for allegedly saying that the National Assembly had no business whether he wore uniform or not, saying that the statement was derogatory to the senate.
The lawmaker, who quoted some sections, especially Section 10 of the Customs Act, said the punishment for unlawful behaviour of an officer, “including any person who assumes the name, designation or character of an officer’’ was clear.
“The Act further stated that the power to prosecute is that of executive and certain officers, including the comptroller-general has that power.
“This implies that your position is statutory, meaning you must conform to the Act.
“Besides, wearing uniform is anchored in the Constitution,’’ he said.
On Ali’s claim that he was seeking  legal advice to Senate’s insistence that he must wear uniform, the deputy leader said that he ought to have sought the advice before deciding not to wear uniform.
He said that the senate would not allow anybody to ridicule it, adding that the National Assembly was the highest law-making body in the country.
He assured that the legislature would continue to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s good intentions for the country, but would not allow anybody to make it a subject of ridicule.
Sen. Barau Jibrin (Kano-APC) said that there was no need to subject Ali’s disobedience to dialogue.
He urged his colleagues to vote that Ali should go back and comply with the directive of appearing before the senate in uniform.
On his part, Senator Solomon Adeola (Lagos-APC) said that it was proper for the comptroller-general to comply with the directive, adding that it was of concern that Ali was not proud to wear Customs uniform.
“All the persons that followed him here are fully dressed in the Customs uniform.
“With what is happening, anybody can wear anything and present him or herself as the comptroller-general. So, I don’t know who is standing here before us.
“His car and aircraft carry the official logo of Customs but he wears mufti,’’ Adeola said.
Responding, the comptroller-general said that the senate letter to him dated March 15, did not stipulate that he should appear before it in uniform.
He also said that he was already seeking legal interpretation to the wearing of uniform.
Deputy President of the Senate, Mr Ike Ekweremadu, who presided at the plenary, said that it was proper for the comptroller-general to wear uniform as a form of motivation to other officers.
He also explained to him that though the March 15 letter did not indicate the wearing of uniform, it was included in previous letters to him.
“If you look at Section 2 of the Customs Act, it defines the officer to include the comptroller-general.
“I believe too that there are certain things officers take for granted which is wearing of uniform. They should learn from you.
“With your refusal to wear uniform, they can also refuse to wear uniform, saying there is no law that compels them to wear uniform.
“There is no better teacher than living by example.
“Also, you suspended the vehicle policy meaning that you will still come back to it, since it is only suspension,’’ Ekweremadu said.
He, therefore, told Ali that the senate was of the view that he should go and return in proper uniform  designated  for Comptroller-General of Customs on Wednesday.