The Senate has called for the resignation of the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Hameed Ali, saying that he is not fit to hold public office.

The decision by the lawmakers followed Ali’s failure to appear before them on Wednesday.

Recall that the Customs boss had told the media on Tuesday that his decision not to appear was based on legal advice after a law suit was filed by a lawyer seeking the interpretation of the rules of the Nigerian Customs with regards to wearing of uniform by the Comptroller General.

During Plenary on Wednesday, the Clerk to the Senate read a letter from the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, asking the lawmakers to suspend discussion on Ali since the matter was in court.

But the lawmakers rejected the letter and roundly condemned the AGF.

Contributing to the discourse, Isah Misau noted that the “enemies of this government are within the presidency.”

“If the Attorney General can write a letter to the Senate, I wonder what advice he gives to Mr President,” he added.

Ekiti State lawmaker, Biodun Olujimi, said that the action of the Customs CG is a breach of the constitution and a “grand display of arrogance.”

She said further that such display only goes to show that Ali “feels no reason to abide by the law”, adding that the “Executive is sitting pretty and pretending nothing is wrong.”

Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over Wednesday’s plenary, in his own remarks said that it is important that the integrity of the Senate  be maintained at all times.

He said: “There’s no big deal in asking a public officer to dress properly, people should be proud of what they do.

“We as public officers should live an exemplary life and obey laws in accordance of the constitution.”

On the insinuation that the Senate is fighting the executive arm of government, Ekweremadu pointed out that “there is nothing like ‘they’ vs ‘us’. We are the same government serving the same people.”