FIRS: Ongoing trial of our officials by EFCC predates Nami’s appointment

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) says ongoing trial of its officials predates the appointment of Mohammed Nami, its executive chairman.

The agency made this known in a statement signed by Abdullahi Ismaila Ahmad, director of communications and liaison department at FIRS, on Wednesday.

In December 2019, Buhari appointed Nami to replace Babatunde Fowler as chairman of the revenue agency.

Ahmad said before Nami’s appointment, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had petitioned some ex-directors and members of staff of the agency over alleged fraudulent practices committed between January 2017 and December 2018.

The FIRS officials were accused of embezzling duty tour allowances (DTA) approved by the erstwhile management.

The officials were arraigned on a 42-count charge bordering on corruption, fraud and criminal misappropriation of funds punishable under the money laundering (prohibition) act, 2011 (as amended in 2012), at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

At the hearing on Wednesday, the court fixed the trial date for the case on September 28.

“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,” the statement reads.

“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 Service had since completed the internal administrative processes as provided in its Human Resources Policies handbook as it relates to the officers still in service. The outcome of this procedure has been kept in abeyance pending the outcome of the ongoing court process.

“The Management of FIRS wishes to appeal to esteemed taxpayers and stakeholders to continue to have confidence in its capacity to deal with internal issues while not also lose sight of its mandate of generating tax revenue for the government.”