N4bn Fraud: EFCC Re-arraign Former FIRS Directors

 

EFCC Re-arraign Ex-Directors Of FIRS Over Embezzlement Of N4bn.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday re-arraigned 2 former directors of the Federal Inland Revenue Service over allegations of fraud.

Justice Bolaji Olajuwon at the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Wednesday presided over the case and adjourned the matter to September 28 for trial

MediaOrchid recalls that the matter was formerly before Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu who got transferred to the Calabar Division of the court which resulted to Justice Olajuwon taking up the matter afresh.

The EFCC had earlier arraigned a former Coordinating Director of FIRS, Peter Hena and eight other officers of the agency on a 42-count charge bordering on corruption, fraud and criminal misappropriation of funds to the tune of N4,558,160,676.9 before Justice Ojukwu of the Federal High Court before her transfer.

The others are the Director of Finance, Mohammed Auta; Amina Sidi (Finance and Account Department); Umar Aduka (Internal Audit); Mbura Mustapha (Deputy Manager); Obi Malachy (Services Group); Obaje Adofu (Head of Budget); Udo-Inyang Alfred (Officer II) and Benjamin Jiya (Assistant Director).

Meanwhile, FIRS in a statement on Wednesday said the issue in court occurred between 2017 and 2018 and therefore had no link to the present management.

The Director of Communications and Liaison Department, Abdullahi Ahmad, said this in a statement titled ‘Ongoing EFCC fraud case predates Nami’s appointment, says FIRS.’

The statement read,  “The public may recall that the alleged violation being tried in the court took place between January 2017 and December 2018.

“The case concerns Duty Tour Allowances approved by the former management for travels that were allegedly not undertaken.

“However, on the assumption of office by the new management, the Board of the Service promptly directed it to take the matter before the Staff and Management Disciplinary Committee for necessary disciplinary processes to be activated to deal with the situation.

“In line with this directive, the Human Capital Management Department of the FIRS subsequently investigated the matter and thereafter issued queries to the concerned members of staff to give the serving officers a fair hearing.

“The FIRS, therefore, assured taxpayers and stakeholders of its capacity to deal with internal issues.”