Reps Committee on Public Petitions Summons Customs CG, Threatens Arrest Warrant for NIMC Boss

The House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions has summoned Adewale Adeniyi, the Comptroller-General (CG) of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), over allegations that some officers have refused to retire despite reaching the mandatory retirement age. The committee also threatened to issue an arrest warrant for Abisoye Coker-Odusote, the Director-General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), over an alleged breach of a software development license agreement with Truid Limited.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Mike Etaba, chairman of the committee, directed Adeniyi to appear before the panel next Tuesday to explain why the affected officers are still in service in violation of civil service rules.

West Africa Weekly earlier reported that President Bola Tinubu approved a 12-month extension of service for Comptroller MT Awe and other top officials of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), despite concerns over brewing scandal within the agency regarding delayed retirements and lobbying for service extensions. The approval, conveyed through a letter dated December 12, 2024, was issued by the Nigeria Customs Service Board (NCSB) and signed by its Secretary, B. Imam.

Etaba emphasised that the lawmakers must ensure accountability in public institutions, adding that retaining officers past retirement deprives younger Nigerians of employment opportunities.

“In this era when most of our youths are looking for jobs, it will be wrong for the older ones, due for retirement, to refuse to go,” he said.

Meanwhile, the committee also threatened to issue an arrest warrant for Abisoye Coker-Odusote, the Director-General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), over an alleged breach of a software development license agreement with Truid Limited.

A petition filed by E.R. Opara, counsel for Truid Limited, claimed that the company had funded, developed, and deployed a tokenisation system for NIMC under a 10-year agreement that began in 2021 without any financial obligation from the commission. The firm was to recover its investment through service provider patronage, with profits shared based on a pre-agreed ratio.

However, the petitioner alleged that since her appointment by Tinubu, Coker-Odusote has attempted to terminate the contract unlawfully.

Etaba warned that a warrant for her arrest would be issued if the NIMC DG fails to appear before the panel at the next hearing.

If she fails to show up at the next hearing of this case, we will have no option other than to ask the Inspector-General of Police to bring her,” he stated.

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