The Senate has directed the Police to arrest chief executives 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.
Some of the companies are British American Tobacco, CCECC, Dana Group, Olam Int. Ltd., Hong Xing Steel Co. Ltd., Visafone, African Wire, 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.
The Senate Joint Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff and Marine Transport, handling the investigation had invited 63 firms accused of complicity in the scam but only 33 honoured the invitation.
The order to arrest the companies’ officials was announced by Chairman of the committee, Sen. 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.
Uzodinma warned that the 8th Senate 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 recession was a disservice to it. “It is no longer going to be business as usual. We have directed the Nigeria Police to arrest the heads of the firms and bring them before us.