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, 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.”

Adegboyega, who confirmed the authenticity of the petition said, “The petition is genuine, we wrote it to the EFCC but we have not been contacted. The former MD believes there is a lot of corruption in the country and decided to blow the whistle in line with the anti-corruption policy of the government.

“When they call us, we will provide more documents and other information.”

In separate posts on his official Twitter handle, Apara said a simple investigation would reveal the fraud perpetrated by the company and urged the EFCC to quickly begin work on the petition which was submitted in July 2018.

“The EFCC investigation should be simple and straight forward. Not rocket science. Alpha Beta has been IGR consultants to the Lagos State Government since 2002, earning about 10 per cent and has generated IGR of about N1.5tn (yes trillion) excluding FAAC and loans.”

The post EFCC to probe Alpha Beta over alleged N100bn tax evasion appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.

Awogbode who stated this on the sidelines of the ongoing Annual Tax Conference (ATC) organised by the Institute in Abuja, said such action was geared at sanitising tax industry of fraudulent practices in the country.

Towards achieving this target, he said the institute had established Staff Practices Monitoring Committee (SPMC) to monitor its members.

Awogbode said the committee was empowered to compile a list of members all over the country, monitor certificate reissuing and renewal of practicing licenses.

According to him, the institute has also set up disciplinary committee and tax tribunal to ensure the handling of erring members charged with any malpractice.

“Such members would be brought before the disciplinary committee, if found guilty, then his case will proceed to tax tribunal.

“Let me inform you and the public that the tax tribunal has equal status with the High Court of Nigeria.

“If the defendant in question did not agree with the outcome of the tax tribunal, he could proceed to the court of appeal, then Supreme Court” he said.

Awogbade said CITN reinforced on such reform because its chain effects on tax revenue generation and its dividends on the country.

“Since taxation is the next revenue generation hope for the government, all linkages must be stopped and the institute is poised to ensure this” he said.

He said the Institute had been liaising with the government on the ways the country can overcome oil revenue decline.

He said, CITN had been sending position papers to the federal government and parastatal agencies involved.

He added that CITN had given several suggestions on what the government should do to improve the economy

“But the missing gap is that, government has not been forth coming in fulfilling its own part.

“We have always been on advocacy side, sensitizing Nigerians to pay tax, spending our own money without any support from government.

“We have been sensitizing government to provide basic amenities and make life easy for the people” he said.

He said government had not yet fully professionalise tax services, especially, Internal Revenue Services (IRS).

“Professionalising tax services would increase the revenue generation of the country. Lagos State Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) started increasing when its tax services were professionalised.

“As at the last count, Lagos State IGR had hit N20 billion. So also in Adamawa and Edo, all because the they adhered to services of professionals “, he said.

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