By Omotilewa Quadri
The House of Representatives says it will investigate the alleged importation of arms, ammunition and military equipment by the governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.
This followed a matter of urgent public importance by Sunday Karimi (Kogi-PDP), who noted that the House must act fast to save the lives of ordinary citizens in the state.
Karimi also expressed worry that the Nigeria Customs had done little or nothing about the said subject matter.
“Instead of the Nigeria Custom Service to promptly arrest the importer of the treasonable act of importing military hardware and items into the country, it only requested the importer to provide end user certificate from the National Security Adviser,” he said.
The lawmaker noted that only the military was constitutionally empowered to import such item.
“I am afraid that if the trend is allowed to continue, politicians, state governors and private citizens will start to import arms under the guise of equipping the military.
“This, in the long run, will jeopardize security and lives of innocent Nigerians,” he said.
Supporting the motion, Hassan Saleh (Benue-APC) and Nnena Elendu-Ukeje (Abia-PDP), said that the problem facing the country today had to do with security.
The lawmakers stressed the need for the executive to take the proliferation of arms in the country seriously.
The motion was unanimously adopted by members when it was put to a voice vote by the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara.
The House, therefore, resolved to invite the Comptroller General of Customs, Hameed Ali to explain why it only requested end user permit.
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