Lawmakers Summon Customs CG Over Sale Of Impounded Vehicles

Lawmakers Summon Customs CG Over Sale Of Impounded Vehicles

The House Committee on Public Petitions has summoned the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Hameed Ali, in connection with the service’s scrapping of impounded vehicles.

Ali was summoned to the National Assembly on Tuesday after failing to appear the previous Wednesday.

The invitation came as a result of a petition signed by the National President of

Alhaji Musa Kurra, President of the Nigeria Association of Auctioneers, was appointed to the committee.

Kurra claimed that the NCS sold hundreds of vehicles seized from smugglers at below-market prices through a process known as direct auction allocation.

After the allegation was published, the NCS summoned Kurra to appear before a panel on November 8 with documents to back up his claims against the agency.

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He, however, refused to accept the invitation, insisting that Customs investigate allegations of selling seized assets without due process.

Ali was summoned to appear in person with one soft copy and ten hard copies of his brief on the sale of impounded vehicles at below-market prices.

The letter was titled, ‘Nigeria Association of Auctioneers (petitioner) against Nigeria Customs Service on direct auction allocation of scrap vehicles and other items,’ and was signed by the committee chairman, Jerry Alagbaoso.

It read: ‘’Whereas the above-named petition is now pending before this committee and the particulars of the petition aforesaid are already within your knowledge; whereas the petition has been assigned to be heard by the committee for determination.

‘’You are hereby required to note sections 88 and 89 (c) of our constitution (as amended) and appear in person before this committee on Tuesday, November 29, 2022, at 2 pm or so soon thereafter as the committee shall direct. Please, bear in mind the NCDC protocols.

‘’You are to submit one soft copy and 10 hard copies of your brief on the matter. And further take note that if you do not attend the hearing as required, the case may be heard or determined in your absence.’’

According to documents obtained by The Guardian, the Committee on Direct Disposal of Condemned Scrap Vehicles and Other Items, Customs Headquarters, Abuja, sold 338 vehicles for N3,380,000.

A letter signed by the Chairman of the Direct Disposal of Scraps Committee, Comptroller A.D Sanusi, allotted hundreds of vehicles to several companies.

Kurra, who called the practice illegal, claimed to have all the necessary documentation to back up his claims against the NCS.

In response to Aliyu Kiliya, a factional leader of the auctioneers association,”I am not fighting for myself, but for Nigeria and the generality of auctioneers in the country,” Kurra said. What Customs is doing is illegal, as are the e-auctions they are holding. Kiliya is aware that we are in court with him, and his claim that I am an imposter is an act of contempt of court.”

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