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 picked following a complaint about his attempt to extort a University proprietor N5million.

Osagie and one Jamila Ojora had on January 27, 2016 allegedly approached Senator 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 for N5million gratification. All pleas by him fell on deaf ears. 

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

The houses of the suspects were searched by operatives of the EFCC , and documents recovered.

Investigations continue.

Wilson Uwujaren

Head, Media & Publicity

29th January, 2016