Indications have emerged that the Senate may summon the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali (retd.) over his men’s refusal to return rice seized from some marketers in some markets in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Customs operatives were ordered by the Senate to return the rice following the recommendation of a committee investigating the matter.
The Senate had assigned the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petition to investigate the development after several petitions from members of the public.
The panel led by Senator Ayo Akinyelure had held an investigative public hearing on the issue with the representatives of the NCS and the rice sellers in attendance on May 4 and later directed the NCS to return the bags of rice and money allegedly seized from the marketers in Oyo State.
According to Akinyelure, a similar operation was carried out by the NCS in Katsina State and led to the dismissal of the officer who led the operations while confiscated goods were returned to the traders on the order of President Muhammadu Buhari.
But findings revealed that despite the order given by the Senate, the Customs operatives are yet to return the goods.
The Babaloja General of Oyo State, Mr Jimoh Aderemi, while confirming this, told Punch that the seized rice and others are still with the customs operatives.
“We have been waiting patiently for the NCS to return our bags of rice, garri and money they took following the intervention of the Senate. However, up till now, nothing has been heard from them,” he said.
Reacting to the development, the Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Customs and Excise, Senator Francis Fadahunsi, said the leaders of the NCS may be summoned to appear before the Senate.
He blamed the Customs men for allowing such goods to smuggled into the country before commencing raids on markets.
He said, “How does the NCS determine foreign rice from locally produced ones. They don’t have the mechanism to determine it . The rice being produced in Kebbi and Kano are as good as foreign rice.”