HAVE YOUR SAY; Is it Lawful for Customs DG To Wear A Uniform? Senate Sends Customs DG Away from National Assembly. cc @DrJoeAbah

Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali

The Senate has sent Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali out of the House to return next Wednesday, 22nd of March, 2017.

This was done through a voice vote during plenary presided by Senate Deputy President, Ike Ekweremadu on Thursday.

Ali had appeared on the floor of the Senate on Thursday without wearing a uniform even after he was mandated by the Senate to do so.

After entering the Senate, Ali was asked by Ekweremadu why he didn’t appear in uniform.

“Please oblige us if you have any reason for not wearing the Customs uniform & the CG says no law against him not wearing Uniform,” Ekweremadu asked.

Also speaking, Sen. Ibn Na’Allah attacked Ali saying that the circular issued by Ali stating to the Senate that he won’t wear his uniform is derogatory.

Sen. Na’Allah further cited Sections 7,8 &10 of the Customs Act which states that the Customs shares same privileges with police and other institutions. He wondered why Ali’s case should be different.

Adding his voice too, Sen. George Sekibo said that Ali must re-appear before the Senate in his uniform.

Sen. B. Jibrin told the Senate that Ali should lead by example by wearing the uniform.

“CG needs to go and apply the law of the land by wearing uniform before he addresses us, as stipulated in our constitution,” Jibrin said.

After the debate, the Senate concluded that Ali must go back and return on Wednesday in uniform before he can be attended to by the Senate.

(430Box)