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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
The Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Colonel Hameed Ali (retd), on Tuesday said he won’t appear before the Senate on Wednesday as expected.
He was seen emerging from the Mosque at the Presidential Villa, besides the President’s office, where he observed the 4 p.m prayer.
It was not clear if he was also in Aso Rock to see President Muhammadu Buhari, who had already left his office at the time Ali came.
The Customs CG dressed in his traditional white kaftan and cab, when cornered by State House correspondents to confirm if he will appear in uniform Wednesday before the Senate, said it would now be subjudice should he comment as the matter was now in court.
Ali told newsmen that, “The case is in court already. Somebody has sued us. It is subjudice. I have got my writ of summons and they said status quo should remain ante which means nothing moves until the court makes a pronouncement.
“A private individual sued all of us, he wants an interpretation of the section that is in contention. I don’t want to talk so that I am not held in contempt of court”, before rushing out of the Villa on foot using the security gate used by service chiefs.
The Senate had insisted he appear before it in Customs uniform.
Before he appeared in mufti last week and was told to re-appear in Customs uniform, Ali had turn down the invitation to appear.
The senators had walked him out and told him to return on Wednesday (tomorrow) in Customs uniform.
