By Dipo Olowookere
Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Mr Hameed Ali, on Thursday, March 16, 2017, finally appeared before the Senate, though without his uniform as directed by the upper legislative arm of the National Assembly.
The Customs boss was ordered to appear before the lawmakers to explain the main reason behind its recent policy that directed vehicle owners in the country to pay customs duty on their automobiles or risk losing them to the Federal Government.
This policy received wide criticisms, with many claiming the agency was trying to sniff life out of Nigerians and also forcing citizens to pay for its inefficiency.
When told to appear before the Senate in uniform, Mr Ali emphatically rejected, saying being in uniform was not important to him than carrying out his duties.
He was supposed to appear before the Senate yesterday, but he wrote to the lawmakers, saying he would not be able to make it.
However, the Senate, at the plenary on Wednesday, threatened to issue an arrest warrant on Mr Ali if he fails to show up today.
While, appearing before the Senate today, the Customs boss said explained that he failed to wear his uniform because the last letter from the Senate to him did not emphatically say he should appear in uniform.
But the Deputy Senate President, Mr Ike Ekweremadu, pointed out that the last letter only served as a reminder on the first letter, which had directed him to come in uniform.
The Customs boss was later directed to appear before the Senate next Wednesday in his uniform.
Adedapo Adesanya