Why Custom CG, Hameed Ali Had A Closed Door Meeting With Saraki

Ahead of his appearance before the Senate on Wednesday, the Comptroller General of Customs, Hameed Ali, Tuesday evening held a closed door meeting with Senate President Bukola Saraki.

The meeting, it was gathered was at the instance of the embattled Customs CG, who arrived the National Assembly Complex at 5.30pm and left at 6.49pm.

It was learnt that the meeting may have been informed by the negative reactions of most Senators to a letter written to the Senate earlier by Mr. Ali, which angered them.

A letter written by one Azerima. Abdulkadir, an Assistant Comptroller General, had stated that the Comptroller General would not honour the summon by Senate as he would be presiding over management meeting at the same time.

“I am directed to acknowledge your letter on the invitation of the Controller General to appear before the Senate in 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 Customs Service cannot appear on the said date as it coincides with weekly management meeting of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS)” the letter written by Azerima, reads in part.

Senators while reacting to the letter read at plenary fumed, saying that Customs management meeting should not be given priority over appearance before the Red Chamber.

Senate Leader Ahmed Lawan reacted this way, “The excuse that the date of appearance before the Senate coincides with the weekly meeting of NCS management meeting is unacceptable. NCS management meeting does not take precedence over the invitation by the Senate.

It will be recalled that the Senate had last week summoned the Customs CG Hameed Ali, to appear before it in uniform over the recent directive on payment of import on vehicles.