FIRS director arrested for tax fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arrested Abumere Joseph Osagie, deputy director, regional tax office, Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, in a case of abuse of office and bribery.

The suspect was arrested following a complaint about his attempt to extort a university proprietor N5million, a statement by the spokesperson for the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, said Friday.

Mr. Osagie and one Jamila Ojora had on January 27 allegedly approached Ahmed Datti, the Chancellor of Baze University, Abuja, and gave him a tax assessment of N20,029, 496.00 through a letter of intent, which he paid.

However when he requested for the assessment certificate, they refused to oblige him.

Instead they allegedly demanded N5million gratification.

All pleas by him fell on deaf ears, the EFCC said.

“Consequently, he petitioned the EFCC, and was advised to play along,” Mr. Uwujaren said. “Consequently, marked N5million was delivered to the director through Ms. Ojora in a sting operation. Ojora was arrested after she collected the N5m. Her confession led to the arrest of Mr. Osagie.

“The houses of the suspects were searched by operatives of the EFCC , and documents recovered. Investigations continue.”