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Babatunde Fowler’s FIRS swims in N6 billion fraud

Firs
Top officials of the Federal Inland Revenue – FIRS who are also regarded as close associates of the Chairman, Babatunde Fowler have been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission – EFCC over a multi-billion naira fraud rocking the agency.

They Director of Finance and Accounts (DFA), Mohammed Auta are currently in the custody of another director of the FIRS who is also involved the fraud scandal includes, Peter Hena.

Mr Hena, the Coordinating Director, Support Services Group of the FIRS, is currently out of Nigeria and will be arrested as soon as he returns to the country, EFCC sources revealed.

A top official of the FIRS, however, said Mr Hena is on official medical leave outside the country and did not flee.

Mr Hena is believed to be one of the closest officials to the FIRS chairman, Babatunde Fowler.

Although It is still unclear to EFCC officials, whether or not Mr Fowler is involved in the scandal.

Details of the scandal are still sketchy as at the time of this report. However, Messrs Auta and Hena are being investigated for allegedly diverting about N6 billion tax funds that should have gone to the Nigerian government, anti-corruption officials said.

Our reporter learnt that most of the other affected officials are from the finance and account department of the FIRS.

All the officials have been in the EFCC detention since April 1.

The EFCC is said to be closing in on several other senior officials of the revenue collection service in a widening investigation to uncover other fraudulent activities involving several billions of government tax revenues.

When contacted on the detention, the EFCC spokesperson, Orilade Tony, said he had not been briefed on the matter. He said any such detention would be at the EFCC office in Wuse 2, Abuja. He asked to be given more time to get more details on the detention.

This is a developing story, more details will emerge soon. (E-Nigeria)
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