The ongoing investigation of the alleged tax evasion by some oil companies operating on the shores of Nigeria has taken a dramatic twist as the lower legislative chamber has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Chairman, Mr Muhammad Nami, to appear before its Ad-hoc Committee.

Irked by his refusal to appear on Tuesday, the Chairman, House of Representatives Ad hoc Committee investigating the Structure and Accountability of the Joint Venture (JV) Business and Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs) of the NNPC from 1990 to date, said the lower legislative chamber would continue to follow its rules and traditions, hence, the Committee has issued a seven-day ultimatum for the FIRS Chairman to appear or risked being compelled to do so.

He revealed that it was the resolution of all the panel members in attendance that Nami must appear before them to clear the air over his alleged collaboration with oil companies to evade tax running to trillions of naira when the nation borrows money in order to fund budget.

Fulata said: “Well, this is the resolution of all of us in the Ad-hoc Committee that the FIRS Chairman, Muhammad Nami must appear to explain the whereabout of trillions that would have accrued into the Federal Government Account as tax by the oil companies.”

He directed the Clerk of the House of Representatives, Yahaya Danzaria to write a subpoena to the FIRS Chairman, Mohammad Nami to appear on Wednesday 7th December, 2022.

According to the lawmakers, this is the last opportunity Nami has to voluntarily appear before the Committee. If he fails to appear, on Wednesday 7th December, the probe panel will then direct the Inspector General of Police to bring him by force.

The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria and First E & P sent apologies to the panel over their inability to appear before the committee on Tuesday. They promised to appear in their next sitting next week. The two companies had last week appeared before the committee but promised to appear today (Tuesday ) to furnish the committee with documents being requested for.

Oil companies expected to appear before the probe panel on Wednesday 30th November 2022 include, Agip (Nigerian Agip Oil Company); Agip (Nigeria Agip Energy); FAMFA; Pan Ocean; New Cross Exploration; New Cross Petroleum; GEC Petroleum Development Company; Enageed Resources Ltd; Ten-Oil Petroleum Energy Ltd; Sahara Energy Resources Ltd and Millennium Oil and Gas Ltd.

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