FIRS loses N146m VAT to syndicate
FIRS loses N146m VAT to syndicate
A syndicate has duped the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) of over N146 million by forging documents to divert cheques for Value Added Tax (VAT).
Two of the suspects, who are former employees of the FIRS, Ibrahim Abdullasis and Rotimi Adedibu, are in police custody for allegedly being the brains behind the scam.
The amount was deducted from several organisations and contractors.
Police sources disclosed in Abuja that some banks connived with the syndicate to perpetrate the fraud.
The gang had links at the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, the sources said, posed as officials of the FIRS and collected VAT cheques.
It was also connected with another syndicate which operates from the Tin Can Island and Apapa Ports, known to the banks.
The cheques are diverted with the collusion of officials of the banks, among them, National, Global, Omega and Access.
Detectives recovered N34 million from Global Bank, N30 million (Access) and N16 million (Omega). About N69 million is with National Bank, yet to be paid to the FIRS.
Besides, VAT belonging to Lagos State Government, Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL) which was diverted through National Bank is yet to be paid back.
A police officer, Ama Alfred Olusegun, attached to Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command Mechanised Salary Section, said to be a member of the syndicate, has been arrested.
More: independentng.com