…..As Yokohama Motors considers legal action
By Chris Udochukwu
Abuja (Precise Post) – The Senate Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff, has threatened to issue warrant of arrest against the Chairman and management of Yokohama Motors for their failure to honour Senate Committee’s invitation to explain their alleged evasion from custody duties amounting to N575 million.
This is also coming as Kanu Agabi Chambers has said they are seeking legal option because the senate committee cannot take the law into their hands, insisting that the section of the constitution that gives the Senate their powers only gives them the power when it relates to issues of making laws for the Federal Republic of Nigeria, with emphasis laid on section 88 (2) of the constitution.
Senate Committee Chairman, Senator Francis Alimekhena who was visibly angry at Tuesday hearing where the Chairman of the Company would have been interrogated, had he been present threatened warrant of arrest.
The panel has summoned appearance of the company chairman and their management for Thursday, 18th March, 2021.
The lawmaker further expressed disappointment that instead of Yokohama Motors to appear before the panel to explain reasons for owing Customs Duties in millions of naira, they “went to Kanu Agabi Chambers to obtain a letter, that the committee cannot invite them to a meeting.”
“We are not over sighting Yokohama. We are saying he should throw more light on the custom duty that he evaded.
“Instead of him to pay the money, he is running to various legal practitioners to obtain letters.
“We have invited Chairman of Yokohama Motors to appear before us on Thursday unfailingly, otherwise we will issue a warrant of arrest.”
Speaking after the failed hearing, a lawyer in the chamber of Kanu Agabi and Associates, Barrister Kanu Oko, said they were in the National Assembly because their client was invited by the Senate Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff on the allegation that they have defrauded the Federal Government.
Barrister Oko said the section of the constitution that gives the Senate their powers only gives them the power when it relates to issues of making laws for the Federal Republic of Nigeria, with emphasis laid on section 88 (2) of the constitution.
“They feel and have made us understand that the Senate has unfettered powers and that their powers are limitless; they said that to us. But I believe that a court of competent jurisdiction will see to it in good time.”
“I believe if the Chairman of the Committee takes a look at the section just mentioned, they will understand the limits of their power.
