Custom Boss Hamid Ali Flies First Class, Violates Buhari's Directive

 

President Buhari right man and current boss of the Nigerian Customs Hamid Ali was according to reports flew in a first cabin of the British Airways on Tuesday from London to Abuja against
the president Buhari's directive which forbids all public servant from travelling on a first class ticket,a measure put in place to cut high cost of travelling by government official,
 A first class ticket to and from London costs $11,423.23 (about N3.4million).The reasons for Mr. Ali’s travel to London remained unknown but customs insiders said the trip was official.
Several passengers on the flight told PREMIUM TIMES they saw Mr. Ali seated in the First Class compartment of the aircraft during the flight.

"It was a major talking point among some passengers whether the policy (barring public officials from flying first class) is being implemented with exceptions or whether it is meant for the shelves," one passenger on the flight told this newspaper.

 Besides being a close friend of Mr. Buhari, Mr. Ali, a retired army colonel, is a man seen by many Nigerian as frugal and incorruptible.
Hamid Ali Spokesperson, Wale Adeniyi, on Thursday, he confirmed to Premium Times , Mr. Ali was on the BA flight, but that he travelled on a business class ticket. Mr. Adeniyi was not on the flight, and he responded to  reporter’s enquiry without checking with Mr. Ali. But  sources, some of whom travelled business class, said Mr. Adeniyi’s claim was inaccurate. 

"That is not true,"one passenger said. "I was on business class, and I was awake most of the flight. So if you line up those on business class during that flight, I can identify them."