EXCLUSIVE: I need legal advice on directive to appear in uniform, Ali writes Saraki

Hameed Ali, comptroller-general of the Nigeria customs service (NCS), has written a letter to Senate President Bukola Saraki, saying he is seeking legal advice on the directive of the senate that he should wear a uniform, TheCable can report.

The upper legislative chamber had mandated Ali to appear before it in a uniform.

This was after the service announced that it would commence impounding vehicles without paid customs duty.

A loud outcry from Nigerians greeted the planned action which forced the senate to intervene.

The senate passed a resolution, asking the agency to suspend the action, pending an investigation into the exercise, but NCS rebuffed the resolution.

The upper legislative chamber then summoned him.

Earlier on Tuesday, he wrote to the senate, saying he would not be available on the day.

The senate reaffirmed its resolution to summon Ali. A few hours after the upper legislative chamber had adjourned its sitting,  Ali sent a letter to Saraki, saying the decision on payment of customs duty by vehicle owners who do not have them, was being reviewed.

“May I respectfully refer to your letter dated 9 March 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,” Ali wrote.

“Regarding to wearing of uniform, I wish to advice 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.”

Although, in the letter, he said would not honour the invitation of the senate at this time, owing to “bereavement”, TheCable understands the President Muhammadu Buhari has asked him to answer to the summons.

This is the second letter Ali has written to the senate since his invitation.

In the first one, which was read during a plenary session on Tuesday,  he cited the need to attend a management meeting of the customs.