The Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission is presently interrogating a former Chairman of the Federal Inland
Revenue Service, Babatunde Fowler, over the N100 billion tax evasion
allegations levelled against a tax firm, Alpha Beta Consulting.
Fowler, who was also a former
Chief Executive Officer, Lagos State Internal Revenue Service, responded to an
invitation from the EFCC on Monday.
A former Managing Director and
Chief Executive Officer, Alpha Beta Consulting, Dapo Apara, had accused the
firm of tax fraud to the tune of N100bn.
In a petition to the EFCC in
2018, Apara stated that Alpha Beta, the firm given exclusive rights to monitor
and collect Internally Generated Revenue on behalf of the Lagos Government,
“has become an avenue for official corruption of government officials, a
conduit pipe for massive money-laundering scheme, tax evasion, among other
vices.”
In the petition which was written
by his lawyer, Adetunji Shoyoye and Associates, the ex-CEO claimed that the
fraud had been covered by powerful politicians in the state.
The petition signed by Adetunji
Adegboyega on behalf of the law firm, read in part, “Over the years the company has been
protected and shielded by some powerful politicians and people in the society
which made them to always boast of being untouchable, but our client, feeling
the need not to keep quiet again and strengthened by his belief in the fact
that the government of President Muhammadu Buhari is keen on fighting
corruption, which has been the bane of our country, is of the firm belief that
it’s time to expose and open the can of worms called Alpha Beta Consulting.”
The EFCC spokesman, Wilson
Uwujaren, confirmed that Fowler was with the commission.
“Yes, Fowler responded to an
invitation this morning. I believe he is still here,” he explained.
Uwujaren, however, did not
comment on the investigation.
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