Customs boss won’t appear before Senate today

The Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Colonel Hamid Ali (rtd), has written a letter to the National Assembly that he would not be able to appear before the Senate today (March 22, 2017) as scheduled.
Ali, who was to appear before the Senate in an official uniform of the Customs Service said he was acting on a legal advice he received from the Attorney General of the Federation and Justice Minister, Abubakar Malami, asking all parties involved with the Senate’s invitation to stay action pending the determination of an originating summons filed by one Mohammed Ibrahim.
A legal practitioner has asked the Federal High Court, Abuja, to restrain the National Assembly from compelling the Comptroller General of Nigerian Customs Service to wear uniform in the performance of his duties.
The suit, filed this week, named Ali, the NCS, the National Assembly, the Senate and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) as first to fifth defendants.
The plaintiff, Mohammed Ibrahim is seeking for a court declaration that Ali’s appointment as Customs boss cannot be subject to the provisions of Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) or any other law.
A declaration that Ali who is not a commissioned officer of the NCS is not mandated by law to wear uniform and that the oversight functions of the National Assembly does not extend to compelling and mandating him to appear before it in uniform.
The plaintiff is also asking for an order of perpetual injunction restraining both the NASS and the Senate from compelling Ali to wear uniform in the performance of his duties.