The tales of two wrongs and show of shenanigan between the Comptroller-General of of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), retired Col. Hammed Ali and the Senate is heading for the worst as the CG failed to appear before the Senate today with the latter unanimously agreeing to issue a warrant of the CG arrest.
The face-off between the Customs CG and the Senate emanated from the directives of the Customs to enforce duty payment on old vehicles in Nigeria.
The Acting Public Relations Officer of the NCS, Mr Joseph Attah, said Wednesday in Abuja that the Management of Customs had directed that the exercise be put on hold and expressed its readiness to engage the Senate Committee on further discussions.
“Following the tension generated as a result of misconception and misrepresentation of the NCS planned motor duty payment, the leadership of the National Assembly and the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd) met with a view to resolving the impasse.
“They both agreed that the proposed motor duty payment, though in line with the provision of Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) Cap C.45, LFN 2004, should be put on hold.
“While the Senate Committee on Customs and Excise interfaces with the NCS for further discussions.
“Payment of duty on vehicles or any dutiable imported item remains a civic responsibility of every patriotic Nigerian,’’ Attah said.
According to recent NAN reports, the comptroller-general approved one month grace for all Nigerian vehicle owners who have not paid duties to do so or face outright seizure of the vehicles. And this applies even to new vehicles bought from car dealers.
The service gave a window of one month, from March 13 to April 12, for car owners to pay the appropriate duty on their vehicles.
The Senate had summoned Ali to appear before it, in his full Customs regalia, but the CG said he would not wear the uniform. Who will blink first-the CG or Senate?
Unconfirmed reports say the presidency may have waded into the crisis between the Nigerian Customs Service and the Senate to avoid a showdown. President Buhari had admonished his appointees to avoid any confrontations with the legislature that would pit it against the executive.
