The Nigeria Anti-Corruption
Vanguard has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to
probe activities of Orion Agro Industries Nigeria Limited, manufacturing
cigarettes in Ilorin Kwara State, considering the alleged interest of the
Senate President, Bukola Saraki in the affairs of the company.
It alleged that the firm was
being allegedly used by the Senate President for illicit financial transactions
since 2003.
The group also called on the
Board of Customs and Legal Department to halt process of renewing import
license for the firm.
The group stated this in a
statement on Thursday, adding that the firm was only looking for
tax waiver.
The statement was signed by the
National Coordinator of the group, Oloye Akin Ayokunle.
It also called on the Comptroller
General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hammed Ali to do its due diligence
before processing the Orion Agro Industries application for renewal of
importation license.
The statement added, “One of our
concerns again is the speed at which the process of renewing this firm license
is taking at Customs, there is a government policy that additional investments
should not be entertained in the Tobacco sector, Orion Agro Industries has not
been in business for almost 20 years.
“According to our investigation
Bukola Saraki bought into the company when he was elected the Governor of Kwara
state in 2003. Since then the firm has been a signpost for illicit money
laundering activities for Saraki and his cronies in the PDP.
“After closing shops for many
years, the firm suddenly using Saraki last minute influence has applied to the
Nigeria Custom for renewal of its license and tax waivers on pretense of
building it’s factory in Nigeria.
“The company imports from it’s
main manufacturer in Poland, not a single stick of cigarette was produced in
Ilorin Nigeria since 2004 when it was importing tax free.
“The company should be made to
give account for its local investment in Nigeria and engagement with its host
communities during its years of waivers before it’s license is renewed.
“Also this company has not paid a
dime as tax into the federation account and the Kwara state government. It’s in
public domain that Kwara state Governor AbdulFatai has given the company 20
years tax holiday, meaning the government at all level will not get anything in
return from Orion Agro Industries.”
“Everything about Orion Agro
Industries is shrouded in secrecy, details of the company has been pulled out
on the Corporate Affairs Commission,CAC registered companies portal neither
does it have Standard Organization of Nigeria SON approvals on production or
importation of tobacco products in the country.
“Also the company does not have
any records in SON since 2003 it has been in operation but has been moving
money out of the country in guise of importation,” Ayokunle said.
”We are also calling on the EFCC
to probe in to the financial transactions of Orion Agro Industries and its
link with Senate President Bukola Saraki.”
The group recalls that under the
PDP government in Nigeria, license were issued, “to anybody for anything, once
you get access to Aso Rock.
“This Orion is just one of the
many companies in Nigeria that have illegally benefited from waivers and tax
holidays from government. But failed to deliver on regulation guiding the
sector.”
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