The senator representing Kano north, Jibrin Barau, has opened up on the allegation that the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), seized 13 vehicles from his residence.
We
had reported that while speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Kano on Monday, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Compliance Task Force, Mr Bala Dole, said it has impounded 223 vehicles, 13 of which belonged to a senator in Kano State
He said the vehicles belonging to the said senator were 12 new Toyota Hilux and one Land Cruiser Jeep. Dole, who had declined to name the said senator, said the 13 vehicles were trailed from Maigatari in Jigawa, following an intelligence report.
But speaking on the floor of the senate on Tuesday, Senator Jibrin Barau, said the said the seizure of the vehicles never happened, and appealed to his colleagues to wade into the matter.
“I received a text message from a reporter, through the text message he explained that I needed to call him because there was an urgent matter. I did not spend up to a minute before calling him,” he said.
“I called thrice, but he refused to pick my call, so I called another reporter attached to national assembly, he also did not pick my call.
“When I woke up this morning I saw the headline that 13 Hillux vehicles, of which duty has not been paid were found in my residence, and that my house was sealed. This never happened.
“I was with my constituents, we were all in my house, and no Hillux vehicle was in my house. This is terrible; this is bad for democracy.
“My privilege has been abused, and I feel very sad. I really cannot phantom why this should happen when we need to put our heads together. We are in a time of recession.
“We need everyone to come on board, the executive, the legislative and judiciary – even the fourth estate of the realm, so that we can find solution to the problem we find ourselves.
“I’m wondering why this is coming at this time. This is very sad and I call on the senate to wade into this matter through the ethics and privileges committee.”
Senate President Bukola Saraki subsequently referred the matter to the committee on ethics and privileges.