The House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions has threatened to order the arrest of the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali (retd.).
The Federal Lawmakers, on Wednesday, said it would be forced to take such an action should the Customs Boss continue to refuse to honour an invitation to appear before lawmakers.
The committee is investigating Ali over a petition alleging the occurrence of ‘lopsided’ promotions and posting of personnel within the Customs.
The petition, which was sent to the House by the Ohanaeze Youth Vanguard, alleged that the abnormal promotions and posting commenced after Ali assumed leadership of the Nigeria Customs Service, in 2015.
According to the President of the Ohanaeze Youth Vanguard, Igweka Okonkwo, the Customs boss had ignored many officers from the South East when approving promotions and posting of personnel in 2015 when he took over the mantle of leadership.
Chairman of the committee, Uzoma Nkem-Abonta, lamented the fact that Ali had repeatedly failed to honour several invitations sent to him by the committee in respect of the pending petition.
Nkem-Abonta said: “We have invited him repeatedly and he has been giving excuses. This is not a military era. He has now been summoned to appear before the House on March 9. If he doesn’t show up, a warrant will be issued for him to appear here.”
Speaking further, he described Ali’s conduct as being insensitive to the complaints lodged by aggrieved Nigerians.
“These are Nigerians who have complained to us and it is our duty to address the issue,” he added.
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