Reps Summon Customs CG Over Six Comptrollers’ Refusal To Retire

The House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions on Wednesday invited the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi, to appear before it on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, over the failure of some senior officials to retire after reaching their due retirement dates.

This followed the consideration of a petition by the Obasi-Pherson Help Foundation, alleging that some Assistant Comptrollers and Comptrollers were due for retirement but had blatantly refused to leave the service.

A statement issued on Wednesday by the Head of Media, House Committee on Public Petitions, Chooks Oko, named the concerned officers as Baba Imam, Umar Ahmed Jada, and KC Egwu, all Assistant Comptrollers, and Michael Awe, Fatima Hajiya Fatima, and Faith Ojeifo, all Comptrollers.

Issuing the summons, the Committee noted that the Comptroller General has a duty as a public officer to clarify the situation to Nigerians.

“Nigerians deserve to know the truth of the matter, and only the CG can clarify the situation. We are elected to serve the people and ensure that all government agencies function effectively as part of that service.

“In this era, when most of our youths are seeking employment, it is unfair for those due for retirement to refuse to leave,” the Chairman of the Committee on Public Petitions, Mike Etaba, was quoted as saying.

“That is not to say we shall take sides—far from it. We treat each case on merit, ensuring that justice is served at all times to those who deserve it,” he added.