Tag Archives: Uniform

Hameed Ali’s uniform controversy is a mere distraction, not the main issue – Dogara

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The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, on Tuesday described the face-off between the Comptroller General of Customs, Hameed Ali, and the Senate as a “mere distraction.”

Mr. Dogara, who stated this when he hosted newspaper editors in his office in Abuja, said the uniform is not supposed to be the main issue.

“The main issue is delivery,” he said, suggesting that Mr. Ali’s performance in office should be the focus.

The senate last week called for the resignation of Mr. Ali, saying he was unfit to hold any public office.

The senate’s decision followed Mr. Ali’s refusal to appear before the lawmakers in full customs uniform. A week before then, the lawmakers had turned Mr. Ali back after he appeared before them, but without the Customs uniform.

Mr. Ali’s problem with the senate started with a controversial customs policy on retroactive payment of duties on imported cars. Following the senate’s condemnation of the policy, the customs reversed it. But the lawmakers insisted Mr. Ali, a retired army colonel, appear before them.

The customs chief refused saying the matter was in court – filed by a private citizen – and there was a directive by the attorney general that both parties maintain the current status.

In its resolution last week, the Senate said it would ask the House of Representatives to concur with its decision.

On Tuesday, Mr. Dogara said the decision of the House of Representatives on the matter can only be decided at the plenary.

“I can’t speak for the House; the House will have to speak for itself through a resolution of the House.

“I cannot pre-judge what the outcome of the debate will be,” he said.

Mr. Dogara, however, said the Senate and House work closely as is necessary in a bicameral legislature.

He said Nigerians and the media should focus more on what the law states on the uniform controversy rather than on the stance of the Senate or Mr. Ali.

 

Source: Premium Times

Nigerian Senate dragged to court over Hameed Ali uniform controversy

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An Abuja-based lawyer has approached a federal high court in Abuja, seeking an order to restrain the national assembly from compelling Hameed Ali, comptroller-general of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) from wearing uniform.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mohammed Ibrahim, the plaintiff in the suit, made copies of the process available on Tuesday.

The suit listed other defendants to include the Comptroller-General of NCS, the NCS, the Senate and the attorney-general of the federation (AGF).

The plaintiff is seeking a declaration of the court that the oversight functions of the national assembly did not extend to compelling, mandating and enforcing the first defendant to wear uniform before performing his duties.

He is also seeking the court to declare that the first defendant, who is not a commissioned officer of the NCS, is not mandated by law to wear the service’s uniform.

Ibrahim further asked the court to declare if Ali’s appointment made pursuant to sections 5 and 171 of the constitution could be subjected to the provision of customs and excise management act or any other law.

The plaintiff, therefore, urged the court to decide whether the first defendant’s appointment, having been made pursuant to the provisions of the constitution, could be subjected to the provisions of other laws.

He also asked the court to explain whether there was any legal provision that prescribed the wearing of uniform as a condition precedent by the first defendant in view of his appointment under section 171 of the constitution.

He asked the court to decide whether the first defendant, not being commissioned custom officer, could be mandated to wear the service’s uniform for the performance of the duties of comptroller-general.

The plaintiff further urged the court to decide whether every directive or power hitherto exercised by the first defendant while not in uniform was null and void.

Ibrahim had also asked the court to decide whether, in view of section 88 (1) of the constitution, the senate could summon the first defendant having not published a resolution to that effect.

NAN reports that the defendants are mandated to, within 30 days after service of the originating summons on them appear in court.

 

Source: NAN

Court slams N500,000 bail on man who allegedly tore policeman’s uniform.

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An Okitipupa Magistrates’ Court in Ondo State on Tuesday slammed a N500,000 bail on a 33-year-oldman, Ranti Netufo, for allegedly tearing the uniform of a police inspector, Seyi Masewonu, attached to the Okitipupa Police Division.

The magistrate, Banji Ayeomoni, also ordered the defendant to produce a surety in like sum, as part of the bail condition.

The accused of no fixed address and occupation is standing trial on a two-count charge of felony and unlawful assault.

The prosecutor, Zedekiah Orogbemi, had told the court that the accused on January 9 around 8:30 p.m. at Hospital Road, Okitipupa, resisted arrest.

He alleged that the accused tore the uniform of the policeman while performing his lawful duty.

The prosecutor said that the offences were contrary and punishable under Sections 516 and 356(1) of the Criminal Code, Cap.37, Vol.1, Laws of Ondo State 2006.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge levelled against him.

The case was adjourned till February 13 for further hearing.

 

Source: NAN

I bought police uniform & ID card for N500 – Fake Policeman

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A National Diploma holder of a polytechnic in Delta State, Anene Odikose, has been arrested by the Ogun State Police Command for impersonation.

A police uniform, an identity card bearing his name and a Honda car were said to have been recovered from him by operatives attached to the Anti-Robbery Squad of the Agbado division.

According to Punch Metro, the team apprehended 31-year-old Odikose on Monday during a stop-and-search at a checkpoint on Matogun Road, Oke-Aro, in the Ifo Local Government Area of the state, where he lives.

The suspect, who hails from Aniocha North, Delta State, had reportedly hid under the Force to defraud and harass unsuspecting members of the public before luck ran out on him.

In a chat with a Punch correspondent, Odikose said he was dismissed in 2011 while undergoing training at the police college in Rivers State.

He said the shame of returning home made him to approach a police friend, who assisted him in obtaining the uniform and the ID card after he paid N500.

He said, “I am an ND holder in Business Administration. I was enlisted in the police in October 2011. During the 15-month training at the police college in Rivers State, some officers came from Abuja to screen us. Unfortunately, I was dismissed on the grounds of physical fitness.

When I left the college, I was shy to go back to the village and tell my people that I had been disqualified. I went to live with a brother in Asaba (Delta State).

When my friends completed the training, I met with one of them, Henry, who was posted to Calabar, Cross River State. He collected N500 from me and helped me process a police ID card. He also gave me a police uniform.”

Odikose, however, denied using the ID card and the uniform to commit crime, saying he only tendered the ID card at checkpoints to evade police interrogation whenever he drove out his car, whose documents were incomplete.

“I came to Lagos in 2014. I was working as a security guard and a driver around Isolo (Lagos State). I got the ID card to avoid being intimidated on the road when I am driving. I have never used it to commit crime. I am a focused person. It was very unfortunate that I find myself in this kind of situation.

I had never shown the ID card to policemen until that day. All I want is mercy. I have two children and a wife to fend for,” he added.

The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Abimbola Oyeyemi, said the case would be charged to court after investigation.

He said, “At about 10.50am, a team of anti-robbery policemen on routine patrol around Oke-Aro, Matogun area, intercepted a Honda Civic with number plate, BW891LSR, driven by the suspect. He identified himself as a serving policeman and presented a Nigeria Police Force constable warrant ID card. On interrogation, it was discovered that he was a fake policeman.

Operatives conducted a search in his apartment, which led to the recovery of a police uniform, three police belts, one police headdress with crest and a police training manual. He will be charged to court after investigation.”

FG To Use Local Textile For Military, Paramilitary Uniforms

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The federal government says plans are underway for Nigerian military and para-military personnel to use made in Nigeria textile for their uniforms.

 

The Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment, Hajiya A’isha Abubakar, said this, yesterday, in Benin at the 28th Annual National Education Conference of the National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN) and the Nigerian Textile, Garment and Tailoring Employers Association (NTGTEA).

Represented by a director in the ministry, Barnabas Jattau, Hajiya A’isha said: “The government is presently discussion with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on how to stop smuggling of textiles materials into the country through the nation’s border posts.”

 

“The other plan is to reduce production cost, especially the cost of gas. We are working out ways to change gas pricing from dollar to naira.”

 

She said that the government, worried by the state of textile industry in the country, would revive the sector by ensuring that made in Nigeria textile was patronised by Nigerians.

 

Earlier, the President of the NUTGTWN, John Adaji, urged the federal government officials to wear clothing from fabrics made in Nigeria to encourage local textile manufacturers.

 

He advised President Muhamadu Buhari to shift from rhetoric to practical actions on the nation’s textile industry, saying that his achievement would be measured by the success he recorded in reviving the textile sector.

 

Also speaking, the Director General of the NTGTEA, Hamman Kwajjaffa, said that poor electricity supply remained major challenge in reviving the ailing textile sector.

 

He condemned smuggling of textile goods from Asia and other parts of Europe into Nigeria.

 

On his part, the General Secretary of NUTGTWN and National Vice President, Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Isa Aremu, said that the recent re-orientation campaign launched by Buhari should be embraced by especially members of his cabinet.

 

“The new change mantra must start from the textile industry with the president, vice president and ministers wearing made in Nigeria textiles,” he said.

 

“Our school uniforms, military and para-military uniforms, uniforms of the NYSC should be made in Nigeria with Nigerian fabrics, we must patronise our produce at home.”

Police, Army Clash Over Uniform

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A policeman was on Thursday reportedly killed, while others were injured after engaging soldiers in a gun duel at Ngwa High School Forward Operation Base (FOB) in Abia State. The dead police officer was allegedly hit in the chest during a crossfire between the army and police patrol team that stormed the Operation Base.

The incident ,which was said to have lasted more than 30minutes, caused pandemonium in the area. Students, teachers inside the army base, shop owners and passersby within the area all scampered for safety.

Trouble started when one of the soldiers at the gate accosted a policeman who was wearing an army camouflage. The policeman was said have rebuffed the soldier and in the heat of the argument, the police officer sprayed a hand teargas into the soldier’s eye which led to a physical combat.

The police officer was reported to have called for reinforcement. A Police patrol van loaded with mobile policemen arrived the scene of the incident and started firing at the soldiers and the soldiers responded.

Read More: TheNation