The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has invited the former Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Babatunde Fowler, for interrogation over the ₦100 billion tax evasion allegations levelled against a tax firm, Alfa Beta Consulting.
Fowler, who was also a former boss of the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service, responded to an invitation from the EFCC on Monday.
A former Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Alpha Beta Consulting, Dapo Apara, had accused the firm of tax evasion to the tune of ₦100bn.
Apara in a petition to the EFCC in 2018, stated that Alpha Beta, the firm with the exclusive rights to monitor and collect Internally Generated Revenue on behalf of Lagos State 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 written by his lawyer, Adetunji Shoyoye and Associates, the ex-CEO alleged that the fraud had been covered by powerful politician 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.”
When contacted, the EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed that Fowler was with the commission.
The spokesman, however, did not comment on the investigation.
