*PDP Asks FG To Fast-Track Investigation Of Former Tax Chief



There are indications that the presidency may probe the tenure of Babatunde Fowler, the immediate past chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

Fowler, whose tenure ended on Monday, had lobbied the presidency for a second term but his plea was rejected by President Muhammadu Buhari who replaced him with Muhammed Nami, a tax consultant, on Monday.

A credible source in the presidency told Daily Independent that Fowler, who was appointed in August 2015 by President Buhari but got his appointment confirmed in December of the same year, may be required to answer some questions on what transpired during his four-year tenure as chairman of FIRS.

He was issued a query by President Buhari through his Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, in August this year over the issue of insufficient tax accumulated by the FIRS in the span of three years, specifically from 2015-2018, a move analysts said was tantamount to a vote of no confidence in him. In the query, the presidency said it “observed significant variances between the budgeted collections and actual collections for the period 2015 to 2018”.

According to FIRS official records, FIRS has not been able to meet collection targets since Fowler took over the headship of the service in 2015, unlike the preceding years.

However, in his response to the query, Fowler blamed oil market crisis for the shortfalls in tax revenues. He also blamed the period of recession for the shortfalls in tax collection. He agreed that actual tax collection since the beginning of President Buhari’s administration was lower than the 2012- 2014 period under former President Goodluck Jonathan.

In general terms, he told the presidency that FIRS under him performed better regarding specific nonoil tax types, such as VAT and CIT.

Also, in May this year, nine senior officials of FIRS were arrested by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged N2.1 billion scam. Although the alleged fraud was perpetrated under an agency he headed, it was not established whether Fowler was involved in the scam. However, more dust were raised when Timi Frank, a former deputy national publicity secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), claimed that Fowler gave Vice President Yemi Osinbajo N90 billion from FIRS’ coffers to prosecute the 2019 presidential election.

Fowler debunked the claim, saying the service’s annual allocation was not even up to that amount. Sources told our correspondent that Fowler might be investigated by the EFCC over some developments that happened during his tenure, especially the drop in revenue which necessitated the query he was issued by the presidency.

“There is a likelihood that he may be investigated, especially as regards the query issued to him by the presidency.

“Though he has replied, the presidency is not convinced by the responses he gave. That was part of the reasons why his plea for a second term was rejected by President Muhammadu Buhari.

“He may also be investigated on the allegations raised by Timi Frank. The belief is that Timi Frank may be wrong on the actual figures he mentioned (N90 billion) but he could be right that the vice-president’s office actually got money from FIRS for the 2019 presidential election, and that was probably why he (Frank) kept insisting that the vice-president should charge him to court,” the source said.

Speaking on the development, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said Fowler should be investigated over corruption allegations levelled against him during his tenure. Kola Ologbondiyan, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, said it was not enough for the presidency to reject a second term for Fowler without investigating the allegations levelled against him. He said: “Our party will come out with an official position on the Fowler development.

We believe that it is not enough to remove him from office. If there are issues pertaining to corruption, he should be investigated.

“That is the position of the PDP. To us, it is not enough to say he wasn’t given a second term and so he should just go like that. “If there are issues bordering on corruption during his tenure, he should be probed by the anti-corruption agency.
https://www.independent.ng/presidency-to-probe-tunde-fowlers-tenure-as-firs-boss/

Just to divert attention of Nigerian from the cry over who is appointed to succeed him

IPOB news

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Charge him to court for corruption. Anything other than that is a smear campaign.

I am 100% sure that vice president yemi osinbajo would not be involved in any form of illegality whatsoever. He is a man of unquestionable integrity and honour and more formal FRSC boss said they haven't made up to #90 billion

Too many SPECULATIONS in this report, with no real substance to hold on to.

Persons who think this will give credence to allegations by the former APC spokesperson are in for a rude awakening. Vice President Osinbajo was not and is not involved in any such shenanigans so probe or not, he's not getting caught in something fishy