Nigerian Senate has ordered the arrest of the chief executive officers of 30 companies for allegedly failing to appear before it. The companies are alleged to have been involved in the N30 trillion revenue loss believed to have been suffered by the country in its maritime sector.
The companies include mobile giant Globacom, Crown Flour Mills, 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 Campina, Etco Nig., Edic Chemicals and Allied Distributors, De United Foods makers of popular Indomie noodles, 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.
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 the chairman of the committee, Hope Uzodinma, at the committee’s meeting on Friday in Abuja. He said the refusal of the officials to honour the invitation in spite of several reminders was disrespect for the National Assembly. (NAN)