By Nuel Suji – The Senate on Thursday walked out the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Customs Service, Hameed Ali from its plenary for failing to appear before it in uniform, directing him to reappear next week Wednesday.
Ali had appeared before the Senate in a white Kaftan and a pair of black shoes with a white cap to match, in defiance of the Senate’s directive.
The Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the plenary told Mr. Ali after being led to the chamber by the sergeant at arm that his appearance was a partial compliance to the invitation sent to him, adding that he needed to fully comply by appearing in uniform.’
“Coming was just one part of our invitation, another part is that you wear uniform. Why are you not in uniform?” Senator Ekweremadu queried.
In his response, Mr. Ali begged the Deputy Speaker to refer to the letter forwarded to him on Wednesday, saying, “this letter did not connote that I should wear uniform.
“My not wearing uniform does not breach any law. No law, to my knowledge, that compels me to wear uniform. There is no law that says in doing my service, I have to wear uniform.”
Mr. Ekweremadu, in his reply said Wednesday’s letter was “further to the earlier letters which indicated that you should wear uniform. So this is a reminder.
“More importantly, this is official. We have expected military chiefs and the Inspector General of Police and they all wear uniform.”
Other Senators who spoke insisted that the law provides that the Customs’ CG, like Service Chief should wear official uniform bearing their ranks and titles.
The Deputy Leader, Bala Na’Allah, argued that the law establishing Customs in fact provides that Mr. Ali should wear uniform.
He said the customs chief was oblivious of the law, saying “I am happy you said you needed legal opinion.”
After the resolution, Mr. Ekweremadu explained that Section 2 of the customs law provides that all officers, including comptroller-general, must wear uniform.
He was however, asked to lead by example.
