It was reported that the decision was to douse the growing tension over the new policy.
The new policy, according to sources, won’t come into effect until the Customs engage in “full consultations” with the Senate.
A formal statement on the suspension of the new policy on customs duty is expected from the Service this week. This was the outcome of a meeting held yesterday between the leadership of the Senate and the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd).
Ali, who came with the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, met with the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki; Senate Leader, Ahmad Lawan; Senators Kabiru Gaya and Hope Uzodinma for about 40 minutes. The Senate had, last week Thursday, summoned Ali to appear before it today to give clarifications on a proposed retrospective duty payment of vehicles in Nigeria which is billed to take off in April.
The new policy asks Nigerians to verify whether duties have been paid on their vehicles and pay if not already done. New Telegraph investigations revealed that after yesterday’s resolution by the Senate which compelled the Customs CG to appear before it today, Ali quickly visited the National Assembly about 5p.m., to perhaps negotiate for soft landing to avoid being disgraced by the lawmakers at his appearance.
New Telegraph learnt that Ali, who was now jittery over Senate’s resolute decision on his summon and appearance in uniform, quickly rushed to Enang, at his National Assembly office. It was further learnt that some senators close to Ali might have advised him to take this step to save himself from impending embarrassment.
Our correspondent was reliably informed by a Senate source that Enang led him to the office of the Senate Leader, Lawan, at about 5:30p.m., from where he was eventually taken to the office of the President of the Senate in company of Lawan and Senator Uzodinma at about 6p.m.
The meeting, which lasted more than 30 minutes, according to a source, saw Ali trying to appease the Senate President by explaining that he did not intend to slight the hallowed chamber or the National Assembly as an institution. Saraki, however, left his office at 6:38p.m. and left behind the Customs CG, Enang and Senator Kabiru Gaya (APC, Kano South), who came out of Saraki’s office at 6.49p.m. Lawan and Uzodinma, who earlier accompanied the CG to Saraki’s office, were no longer sighted at his departure. While Enang led Ali to his car, Gaya went to his own car.
As at the time of filing this story, it was not clear whether the meeting with Saraki yesterday evening would shelve Ali’s appearance today. The CG had written to the Senate, seeking to get a new date for his appearance on the excuse that the earlier invitation to appear today coincided with the Customs Service manage- ment meeting.
The letter, which was read in the chamber by the Clerk of the Senate, Nelson Oniwoh, as directed by the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, infuriated the lawmakers, who concluded that there was a deliberate attempt on the part of Ali to disregard and disrespect the institution of the Senate.
To further aggravate the anger of the apex legislative chamber, the Customs CG directed an assistant director in the Service, Mr. Abdulkadir Azarima, to write and sign the letter to the Senate.
Consequently, the Senate observed that, apart from giving an inconsequential reason for his request not to appear, it was absolutely a mark of disrespect for the Customs boss not to sign the letter by himself. Part of the letter reads: “Re: Invitation to brief the Senate.
“I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter number Nass/ CS/8S/R/09/29 of 9th March, 2017 on the above subject matter. “I am further directed to inform you that the date given to the Comptroller- General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Wednesday 15th, March 2017 to brief the Senate in plenary on the retrospective duty payment of vehicles in Nigeria has coincided with the fortnightly meeting of the NCS management.
“Consequently, the Comptroller-General is humbly requesting for a new date from the distinguished Senate. “As we await your favourable response, please be assured of the highest regards and esteem of the Comptroller-General of Customs.” Meanwhile, Ali transmitted another letter, which he personally wrote and signed, advising the Senate to seek legal advice on the issue of uniform, which it insisted the CG must wear and appear before it. He also said that he had resorted to legal advice on the matter so that he and the apex chamber would not continue to bicker unnecessarily over the issue of uniform.
It was, however, observed that in the second letter, the Customs boss did not make any reference to the first letter. The second letter reads: “May I respectfully refer to your letter, dated March 9, and inform Your Excellency that the decision on payment of customs duties by vehicle owners who do not have them as prescribed by law is currently being reviewed.
“The goal of the review is to take a broad additional input from the stakeholders and the public. I will welcome the opportunity to avail the Senate of our findings. “Regarding to wearing of uniform, I wish to advise that the Senate avails itself of the legal basis of its decision to compel me to wear uniform. I am similarly taking legal advice on this issue so that both the Senate and I will operate within the proper legal framework.”
The Comptroller General, who was summoned to appear before the apex chamber today, is expected to explain to Nigerians the implications of his planned policy on retrospective duty payment of vehicles in Nigeria which is billed to take off in April. But the CG wrote the Senate, seeking to defer his appearance to a new date on the excuse that the earlier invitation to appear today coincided with the Customs Service’s management meeting.
This provoked the chamber to reinforce its earlier resolution, insisting that he must appear today and also in full Customs uniform, depicting the rank of Comptroller- General.
Ali had earlier made some statements in the media last week, saying that he would not appear in uniform while coming to meet with the Senate as invited, claiming that as a retired military officer, he would not wear uniform of another organisation in his remaining life time.
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