In an apparent response to Senate’s directive, the Comptroller
General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (retd), declared on Friday that he
was not employed to wear uniform.
Ali told TVC that rather he was appointed to work effectively.
The Senate had ordered him to appear before it on March 15 in his official uniform as a customs officer.
He was summoned by the senators over the Customs’ new order, asking all old vehicles to pay customs duty.
Customs offered a 60 per cent rebate for vehicles from 2015 below.
He said: “No! I was not appointed Comptroller General of Customs to wear uniform.
“Does uniform work or the person behind the uniform?”
On the criticism of the Customs for the recent invasion of the Sango
Ota motor park in Ogun State where thousands of bags of rice were carted
away on the allegation that they were smuggled, Ali said: “If we
suspect that smuggled items are taken into your house, we have the right
to cordon that house and go in to search.
“Am I doing my job or not? I think that should be what should worry the National Assembly.”
