Frank’s Allegation Of N90bn Election Fund To Osinbajo Is False, Malicious – FIRS

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has debunked allegations that it doled out N90billion to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as election campaign funds for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)

Former National Deputy Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mr. Timi Frank had on Monday in a statement alleged that the FIRS supported the APC with a whooping N90billion for the 2019 election through Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

Frank also alleged that the fund is the main cause of Osinbajo’s crisis in the Presidency.

However, in its reaction, the FIRS through its Director of Communication and SERVICOM, Mr. Wahab Gbadamosi, denied the allegations, stressing that it is not plausible nor does it make any sense that the Revenue Service will commit its resources to the tune of N90billion to a phantom campaign as bandied by Mr. Timi Frank.

Gbadamosi pointedly said that the FIRS does not fund political associations and therefore asked Frank to apologize or face a libel suit.

He said that the FIRS is subject to the eagle eye scrutiny, supervision and close monitoring by the National Assembly, the Federation Account Allocation Committee and the Ministry of Finance through the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF).

The FIRS statement further said; “We demand an unequivocal apology from the said Mr. Frank and a well publicised public apology in three major and leading newspapers within the next 24 hours. Please, note that Mr. Timi Frank and all channels where he ventilates his barns of lies risk a libel suit if they continue on their path of dishonor.

“The FIRS shall pursue claims for aggravated damages in libel and injurious falsehood against the said Mr. Frank if he fails to meet these conditions in the next 24 hours.”

Gbadamosi further said; “That FIRS is a creation of statute and its activities are governed by the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and financials regulations and thus, it is not plausible, that its funds could be expended in such a cavalier manner as suggested by Mr. Timi Frank.

“That FIRS Budget and expenditure approval processes passes through the Budget Office and the Ministry of Finance, before such are presented to the National Assembly for Appropriation into Law.

“The National Assembly committees, consisting of all parties and inclinations exercise oversight function on all agencies of the Federal Government and ascertains if an agency is keeping to the letters of the Appropriation Act

“FIRS is a public trust, which the agency operates on behalf of Nigerians. Taxpayers’ money-including the operational funds of the Service- are sacred and we exercise, extra care and diligence in expenditures, even after such funds must have been appropriated by the National Assembly.

“It is therefore unthinkable, malicious and irresponsible for the said Frank to insinuate or infer that a huge amount of public funds or any part thereof could be spent illegally and without budgetary approval.

“It is equally alarming to note that this injurious falsehood and blackmail could find space in our mass media without proper scrutiny particularly in the face of the Freedom of Information Act, which broadly allows Nigerians access to information on expenditure of public funds by government agencies. This all goes to show an orchestrated and invidious decision by paid agents to discredit the Service in order to achieve their diabolical ends, which is at variance from the interest of Nigerians.

“We ask members of the public to ignore the claims of Mr. Timi Frank, with the ignominy it deserves as the former National Publicity Secretary of the APC is seeking for cheap popularity and relevance.

“We wish to assure all Nigerians that the FIRS did not spend and could not have spent taxpayers’ money for political ends. For the avoidance of doubt, every kobo paid by taxpayers goes straight to the Federation Account domiciled at the Central Bank of Nigeria and that the FIRS does not possess the constitutional right to touch the said account or appropriate any kobo there from to itself.

“The FIRS wishes to reassure members of the public that the FIRS remains committed to public accountability and transparency in the sacred mandate of tax collection and public expenditure.”

Reacting to the threat of libel suit by the FIRS, Mr. Frank said he stands by his position over his claim of N90billion and dare the FIRS to commence the court process.

Hearsays over Osinbajo’s crises was brought to the fore following the composition of an Economic Advisory Council (EAC), by President Muhammadu Buhari which is expected to replace the Economic Management Team chaired by Osinbajo.