TheCable

The senate has directed the police to arrest chief executive officers (CEOs) of 30 firms for failing to appear before its committee probing national revenue loss.

The companies are alleged to have been involved in the N30 trillion-revenue believed to have been lost by the country in its maritime sector.

The senate joint committee on customs, excise and tariff and marine transport, handling the investigation had invited 63 firms accused of complicity but only 33 honoured the invitation.

The order to arrest the companies’ officials was announced by Hope Uzodinma, chairman of the committee, at its meeting on Friday in Abuja.

The companies involved include Crown Flour Mills, Glo Mobile, British American Tobacco, CCECC, Dana Group, Olam Int. Ltd., Hong Xing Steel Co. Ltd., Visafone, African Wire, Star Comments and Allied Ltd. and Aarti Steel Nig. Ltd.

Others are Abyem-Diva Int. Ltd., Gagasel Int., Friesland Capina, Etco Nig., Edic Chemicals and Allied Distributors, De United Foods, Don Climax Group, Skill G Nig. Ltd., Premium Seafood and La Rauf Nig. Ltd.

Also involved are Standard Metallurgical Co. Ltd., Kam Industries, IBG Investment Ltd., Orazulike Trading Co. Ltd., Popular Foods Ltd., A-Kelnal Integrated & Logistics Services, African Industries, African Tiles & Ceramics and ZTE Nigeria.

Uzodinma said the refusal of the officials to honour the invitation in spite of several reminders was disrespect for the national assembly.

He warned that the 8th assembly would not tolerate such behaviour from anybody or institution, particularly in the present situation that involved federal government funds.

According to him, investigations carried out by the joint committee showed several forms of infractions that have cost the country huge amount of money in revenue loss.

He said such development in a country currently in a recession was a disservice to it.

“It is no longer going to be business as usual,” Uzodinma said.

“We have directed the Nigeria police to arrest the heads of the firms and bring them before us.

“If we can suspend our recess as lawmakers to see to the end of this investigation, I see no reason why the firms that have been indicted will not come to defend themselves.”

The chairman asked the firms that honoured the invitation to go through the documents given to them and return next week for defence.

The senate had mandated the joint committee to carry out an extensive investigation into alleged revenue leakages in the import and export value chain between 2006 and 2017.

The committee had already interfaced with commercial banks indicted in the matter as well as relevant government agencies.