A letter from the Controller General Col. Hammed Ali (Retard) in reply to why he cannot honour his last week summon by the Senate on Tuesday sparked fresh anger at the upper chamber of the National Assembly.
Majority of the Senators that was present during the plenary fleer up their anger immediately the clerk to the Senate as directed by the Senate President Bukola Saraki read out the letter from letter from the Controller General written and signed by one Azerima A. who is an Assistant Controller General in the Nigerian Custom service.
“I am directed to acknowledge your letter on the invitation of the Controller General to appear before the Senate on uniform in respect to his recent directive on payment of import on vehicles.
“I am further directed to inform the Senate that the Controller General of the Nigerian Custom service can not appear on the said date as it coincides with weekly management meeting of the Nigerian Custom service (NCS)” part of the letter written by Azerima A. read.
In his reaction, the Senate leader Ahmed Lawal said the excuse given by the Controller General for not appearing before the Senate is not acceptable. “The excuse that the date of appearance before the Senate coincides with the weekly meeting of NCS management meeting is acceptable. NCS management meeting does not take precedence over the invitation by the Senate” Lawal said.
He also observed that the letter was signed written and signed by Assistant Controller General instead of the Controller General. “The letter was written and signed by Assistant Controller General, it is a mark of disrespect for the institution of the National Assembly” Lawal added.
The Senate leader pleaded with his colleagues to allow the Controller General appears before the Senate on Thursday as two wrongs cannot make right.
But in a quick follow up, Senator James manager said the integrity of the Senate is been tested and disagree with the plea of the Senate leader. “When a letter like this is coming from the executive, the Senate must be firm” Manager said.
He insisted that that Controller General must appear before the Senate on uniform on Wednesday. Manager position was supported by the majority of the Senators present at the plenary.
In his ruling the Senate President Bukola Saraki said the position of the majority is the position of the Senate. He said the position of the Senate remains the same and the Controller General of the Nigerian Custom Service must appear on Uniform before the Senate on Wednesday.
