The House of Representatives Committee on Customs and Excise has expressed disappointment over the refusal of the Comptroller General of Customs and the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service to attend an investigative hearing.
The committee had invited the heads of government agencies to provide explanations on the concession of the e-customs project to the Trade Modernisation Project and Webb Fontaine’s role in the e-customs framework.
Lawmakers criticized the absence, citing Section 88 of the constitution, which empowers parliament to invite individuals to provide explanations.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji Ojo, was absent due to being out of the country, but no reason was given for the absence of the Customs boss and his Immigration counterpart.
Members of the committee, including Olumide Osoba and Awaji-Inombek Abiante, condemned the absence, stating that it was an affront to the parliament and that the committee should invoke its powers to recommend their removal from office if they fail to appear at the next adjourned date.
The investigative hearing has been postponed to a later date, pending the availability of the Chief Executives.
The committee is expected to investigate the concession of the operations of the customs to Trade Modernisation Project and the role of Webb Fontaine in the e-customs framework.
