SAN FRANCISCO, March 21, (THEWILL) – The Senate President, Bukola Saraki has stated that he has no hand in the importation of a Sports Utility Vehicle, SUV, seized by the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS.
The Customs Comptroller-General, Hameed Ali, and the Senate have been locked in a face-off over his refusal to wear the Customs uniform to explain the now-suspended import duty payment on old vehicles before the Senate plenary.
During Tuesday’s session presided over by the deputy senate president, Ike Ekweremadu, Senator Ali Ndume raised a point of order asking the Senate to investigate an allegation that the upper legislative chamber was exacting vengeance on Ali, because the agency seized Saraki’s car.
This led the Senate to order an investigation into the allegation.
But in a statement issued shortly after the plenary session, the Special Adviser to the Senate President on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, said his principal had nothing to do with the issue.
The statement asserted that, “The allegation raised today by Senator Ali Ndume linking Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki to the importation of vehicle lacks basis as it was outright falsehood”.
Olaniyonu said from facts and documents on the seized vehicle, “it is obvious that the senate president has nothing to do with the importation of any vehicle”.
He explained, “A supplier was engaged by the senate to supply a vehicle. While transferring the vehicle between Lagos and Abuja, it was impounded by the customs. We believe that is an issue between the supplier and the customs because the senate has not taken delivery. So, why is somebody trying to drag in the name of Saraki into the issue.
“The documents on the vehicle are there for the general public to view and make their conclusions. Now, that the matter has been referred to the committee on ethics, privileges and public petitions, all the facts will be out.”
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