NAGAFF threatens to sue Hameed Alli if he wears Customs uniform

Published by

Freight forwarders under the aegis of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has threatened to seek legal option if the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Alli (Rtd) bows to pressure from the Senate and appears in Customs uniform.

According to a statement dated March 20 and signed by the association’s management, the association stated that Col. Alli is not in a position to assume the character of an officer of the service as stated under Section 10 of CEMA Cap C 45 of 2004 as amended.

“The ongoing controversy involving the Comptroller-General of Customs Rtd. Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali and the Nigerian Senate is avoidable because the Presidential mandate was specific and unambiguous.  The CGC was directed to reform, restructure and enhance revenue collection duty of the service.

“The time frame is within four years of the administration’s tenure or less under the circumstance because he is neither a commissioned Customs officer nor a Sole Administrator in a democratic government.  He is not in a position to assume the character of an officer of the service as stated under Section 10 of CEMA Cap C 45 of 2004 as amended.

“To be a proper officer of the Nigeria Customs you must be properly appointed in line with the Civil Service Rules. You must undergo a mandatory training programme and issued with a service number.  These are conditions that must exist before the question of character can be alluded to.  Since we know that Ali’s appointment is a political appointment that was made by Mr President in line with Section 171 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, for him to go and carry-out a specific mandate of restructuring, reforming and enhance the revenue collection of the Nigeria Customs Service.  To us he was only sent to the Nigeria Customs Service for a special assignment.  He is by this appointment not a career Customs officer that should be made to wear the uniform.

“Ali is correct for not wearing the Customs uniform and equally Mr President was right for not appointing him as a Sole Administrator in a democratic government.  As an Association which believes in the sanctity of the law, especially court ruling, if Ali wears the Customs uniform, NAGAFF may approach the court to stop him from an act of unlawful assumption of character of an officer of the Service.

“Our locus shall be drawn from Section 154 of CEMA Cap C45 of 2004 as amended, The real issue before the stakeholders is to examine and determine whether Ali is doing his job as directed by Mr President to reform, restructure and enhance revenue collection duty of the service.

Recent Posts

2027 is the right time to shift Oyo governorship seat from Ibadan — Mutalib Ojo, SAN 

Barrister Mutalib Adebayo Ojo, SAN served as Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Oyo State…

14 minutes ago

Kwara 2027: Stakeholders raise zoning, equity issues  

THE question about zoning taking precedent in determining where the next governor of Kwara State…

44 minutes ago

Why Ogun West will produce next governor —Akinwande

Gbenga Akinwande, a philanthropist and socio-economic activist, spoke to IFEDAYO OGUNYEMI  about his political ambition,…

1 hour ago

PDP members nursing defection to APC should leave now —Tsauri, ex-National Secretary

A former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Secretary, Senator Umaru Tsauri, says the main opposition…

2 hours ago

Four seminarians die, nine injured in Obudu ranch accident

An accident occurred recently in Ikwette community, near the base of Obudu cattle ranch in…

2 hours ago

Eno to flag-off int’l hospital, conference centre, other projects to mark second year in office

Akwa Ibom State governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has disclosed plans to flag-off key projects in…

3 hours ago

Welcome

Install

This website uses cookies.