The Senate on Wednesday declared the Controller General of Nigeria Customs Service Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd) unfit to hold any public office and urged him to resign. The upper chamber of the National Assembly also directs the Nigeria Customs Service to cancel its proposed policy on retrospective payment of vehicle duty.
The Senate also condemned the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami for trying to interfere with the constitutional responsibility of the Senate. The National lawmakers agree to send their resolution to the House of Representative for concurrence will also communicate their resolutions to the presidency.
The development follows failure of the Controller General to appear before the Senate wearing the Nigeria Customs Uniform. Although the appearance of the Controller General was listed in the order paper for the day but when the Deputy Senate leader Ibn Na’allah move for the Senate to resolve into committee of the whole to admit the controller General, the Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu who presided over the sitting observe that the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami on Tuesday wrote the Senate the matter is in court and advise the Senate not to consider the matter as it will amount to prejudice.
Most Senators in their contribution said in democracy, there is no way court action can stop the legislative aims of government from doing their work. In his reaction, Senator Dino Melaye representing Kogi West said the letter from the AGF is an insult on the Senate. He wondered where the AGF derived the power the power to write the Senate on how Senator should perform their constitutional responsibility. The Lawmaker described the action of the AGF as another black day for democracy in the country.
Melaye further explained that the Senate has started considering the matter and several resolutions have been passed before the court process referring to by the AGF was initiated. He added that the Controller General Hameed Ali is above 60 years and inline with the civil service rule, he is not qualify to occupy the officer of the Controller General.
Senator Ibrahim Gobi said the AGF should be stop from interfering in the constitutional responsibility of the Senate. Senator Eyinaya Abaribe suggested that the Senate should totally ignore the AGF letter and declare Hameed Ali unfit to occupy the office of Controller General of Nigeria Customs.
Senator Abiodun Olujimi further stated that the AGF letter is a serious breach of the constitution. She added that this is not the change APC promise Nigerians. “The Change that was promise to Nigerians stop when two people are flaunting the law” Olujimi said.
Senator Thompson Sekibo says the letter from the Attorney General undermines the Senate as an institution and must be investigated. In his contribution tagged common sense, Senator Isah Missau said the enemies of this present government are within the presidency and they are working for the President not to succeed. “About 59 days, the President was away for medical checkup and there was no single attack and tension in the country, just two weeks he has returned, these enemies have created tension everywhere” Missau said.
He urges Nigerians to continue praying for the President because the enemies of the country are very close to the President.
In his comment, the Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu said it is important that the integrity of the Senate must be maintained at all times. “There’s no big deal in asking a public officer to dress properly, people should be proud of what they do. We as public officers should live an exemplary life and obey laws in accordance of the constitution” Ekweremadu said
