FIRS Explains Fraud Case Against Ex-Directors, Staff
- Says ongoing EFCC trial predates Nami’s appointment
- Assures taxpayers, stakeholders of integrity
BY VICTOR OSOWOCHI – The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has commenced the hearing of a case of fraud involving some ex-directors and some members of staff of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
The affected directors and staff are arraigned on a 42-count charge bordering on corruption, fraud, and criminal misappropriation of funds punishable under the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended in 2012).
Also, they are answering charges of embezzling Duty Tour Allowances (DTA) approved by the erstwhile management of the Service.
A statement by FIRS’ Director, Communications and Liaison Department, Dr Abdullahi Ismaila Ahmad, said the ongoing trial followed a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) about the alleged fraudulent practices committed by the accused persons between 2017 and 2018.
When the case came up for hearing on Wednesday, June 23, 2021, the court fixed September 28, 2021, as the new trial date for the defendants.
The statement explained that the alleged financial violation took place between January 2017 and December 2018, adding that the case involves DTA approved by the former management for travels that were allegedly not undertaken.
According to the statement, with the coming of the new management team, the Board promptly directed that the matter be taken before the Staff and Management Disciplinary Committee to activate necessary disciplinary processes to deal with the situation.
Consequently, the FIRS’ Human Capital Management Department, acting on the Board’s directive, investigated the matter and thereafter issued queries to the concerned staff to give them a fair hearing.
The statement said having completed the internal administrative processes as provided in its Human Resources Policies handbook concerning the officers still in service, “The outcome of this procedure has been kept in abeyance pending the outcome of the ongoing court process.
“The Management of FIRS wishes to appeal to esteemed taxpayers and stakeholders to continue to have confidence in its capacity to deal with internal issues while not also losing sight of its mandate of generating tax revenue for the government”, the statement said
