The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday commenced interrogation of a former Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Babatunde Fowler, over the N100 billion tax evasion allegations leveled against a tax firm, Alpha Beta Consulting.
The interrogation followed Fowler’s response to an invitation by the anti-graft agency. He is also a former Chief Executive Officer of Lagos State Internal Revenue Service.
Dapo Apara, a former Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Alpha Beta Consulting, had repeatedly accused the firm of tax fraud to the tune of N100bn.
Apara had in a 2018 petition to the EFCC, alleged that Alpha Beta, which has an 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 Fowler’s response to the agency’s invitation.
