Nigeria’s House of Reps lauds Customs over illegal arms interceptions
*Invites CGC, IGP, DG DSS to parley on way out
*Don’t make agencies briefing public – Lawyer advises Reps
The House of Representatives, on Wednesday, commended the Col. Hameed Ali-led Nigeria Customs Service (NSC) for the inception and seizure of four consignments of arms illegally imported into the country.
The House, in adopting a motion moved by Honourable Obinna Chidoka (PDP, Anambra) during which it unanimously praised the arms seizure, also urged the Customs and other regulatory authorities to intensify efforts to ensure proper checks at ports.
The Green Chamber however invited the Customs’ Comptroller-General, Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd), Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris and the Director General of the Department of State Security (DSS), Mallam Lawal Daura, over several illegal importations of firearms into the country with a view for them to explain to the House what plans they have put in place to curb the illegal importation of firearms into Nigeria.
The lawmakers also urged the agencies and the office of the Attorney General of the Federation to speed up investigations into seized firearms and commence prosecution of the culprits.
A respondent of The DEFENDER, Barrister Jimoh Saliu, who spoke from Akure, Ondo State capital Wednesday night, not only gave the House of Representatives a thumb up for appreciating for once the good work that was being done by Hameed Ali in cleansing the Customs of corruption for security and safety of Nigerians but also, advised that “If what the Customs’ CG, IGP and DG DSS are expected to tell the Reps is about their plans to curb illegal importation of firearms into Nigeria, then, such parley should not be made public for security reasons,” Barrister Saliu said.
He gave reason, “When you know that you have people who are enemies of the State by their activities of importing things illegally, which they know pose threats to the security of the nation, your plans to curb their actions should not be said to their hearing because they will devise another means.”
