Comptroller-General of Nigerian Customs Service, C-G NCS, Col. Hameed Ali (retd.) in trouble for exploiting Nigerians

www.odogwublog.com reports that Human  rights groups have against condemned the imposition of customs duty of old vehicles plying on Nigerian roads, saying that it was a ploy by the Nigerian Customs Service, NCS to exploit Nigerians and possibly impoverish them

In a press statement issued yesterday in Onitsha, Anambra state, yesterday, Africa President of World Alliance Against Terrorism, Violence and Inhuman Treatment, WAATVIT; Dr. Anthony Orunkoya said the Comptroller-General of Nigerian Customs Service, C-G NCS, Col. Hameed Ali (retd.)has no sole constitutional power to impose such duties on Nigerians without passing through the Nigerian Customs Service Board, NCSB.

Orunkoya who is also the National President of Movement for Survival of Democracy, MSD and legal practitioner in Onitsha, therefore gave Ali 30-day ultimatum within which to rescind the order or be prepared to be dragged to the Federal High Court to explain the rationale behind his action.

Also speaking, the Secretary-General of MSD and member of Civil Liberties Organization, CLO, Comrade Tochukwu Ikwuemesi.noted that

In the eight-paragraph pre-action notice dated March 21, this year and addressed to both Ali and the NCSB, Orunkoya and Ikwuemesi insisted that if at the expiration of one month (i.e.) 30 days after the service of this notice and the NCSB fails, refuses, neglects and/or omits to recount its step on the directive to commence the impoundment of vehicles which duly passed through the borders under the watch of NCS and same vehicles having been duly registered and under use by their respective owners, including Barrister Anthony Orunkoya and Comrade Tochukwu Ikwuemesi, they shall be restrained to resort to the full weight of the law seeking redress.

He contended that C-G's powers are statutory and cannot act solely on his own by making policy decisions that have over-reaching effect on the Nigerian population which includes the complainants without deliberation and formulation of such policy decision directive by NCSB duly constituted by the federal government in accordance with the enabling laws in that regard.

They therefore sought among other reliefs whether the C-G of the NCS by virtue of the provisions of Customs and Excise Management Act, CEMA and other enabling laws in that regard vis-a-vis the powers conferred on the NCSB by Section 4 of CEMA, can solely make policy statements or decisions without recourse to the NCSB.

They therefore sought a declaration that the directive of the C-G of the NCS to officers and men of NCS to commence nationwide impoundment of vehicles is ultra vire, his powers premised on non deliberations and resolutions of the NCSB duly constituted by the federal government in accordance with the enabling laws and therefore null and void.

An order restraining the C-G of the NCS, his agents, privies and anybody whatsoever acting on his directives from impounding any vehicle whatsoever, such vehicles having been hitherto cleared, registered and under usage, adding that it is their hope that good counsel shall prevail in this matter.
Comptroller-General of Nigerian Customs Service, C-G NCS, Col. Hameed Ali (retd.) in trouble for exploiting Nigerians Comptroller-General of Nigerian Customs Service, C-G NCS, Col. Hameed Ali (retd.) in trouble for exploiting Nigerians Reviewed by Unknown on Friday, April 14, 2017 Rating: 5

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