NNPC Probe: Reps To Issue Warrant of Arrest On FIRS Chairman

Posted by Thandiubani on Thu 08th Dec, 2022 - tori.ng

Hon. Mark Gbila (Benue State) noted that the submission of some of the oil companies that they are ignorant of CAFA certificate as the basis for enjoying capital allowance cannot in any way absolve them.

A warrant of arrest on the Chairman of Federal Inland Revenue Service, Muhammad Mamman Nami may be issued anytime from now by the House of Representatives.

The House of Representatives Adhoc 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 it is left with no other option than to issue the warrant after Nami failed to honour invitation for 6 times.

The Chairman of the Investigative Committee, Hon. Abubakar Hassan Fulata, during the committee meeting, insisted that the panel will invoke its constitutional power to direct the Inspector General of Police to arrest Nami who they accused of conniving with oil companies to evade tax running into billions of dollars.

“Federal Inland Revenue Service, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Chevron and FAMFA Oil Ltd are the four organizations expected to appear before us today. While the three oil companies are here, the Chairman of FIRS is not here to answer questions regarding the allegations of tax evasion.

“The Clerk of the House of Representatives has served the FIRS chairman the subpoena. Yet he refused to honour our invitation. We have no option than to issue warrant of arrest againt him to police in order to arrest and bring him before this investigative committee,” Fulata said.

The committee reiterated that any of the oil companies found guilty in relation to payment of tax or unduly enjoying capital allowance will be made to refund the money to the federation account.

Fulata said some of the oil companies right from 1978, who sought for capital allowance, processed their Certificate of Acceptance of Fixed Assets (CAFA) and wondered why Shell which is one of the oldest oil companies, if not the oldest, completely ignored CAFA certificate, yet the company is enjoying capital allowance.

After series of questions to Shell representatives led by Bashir Bello, a director, the lawmakers directed them to further furnish the secretairat with relevant documents regarding their operations to the committee before or on Monday December 12, 2022, while they are to appear before the probe panel on Monday December 19, 2022.

Chevron and FAMFA Oil were also told to send their documents to the secretariat before or on Monday 12 December, 2022. The CEO of Chevron and FAMFA are expected to appear before the committee on Monday 19 December, 2022.