FIRS Staff Docked Over N18m Fraud

A senior staff of Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, Eyo Bassey and a staff of Silver Bird Entertainment, Jacob Uwem, alleged to have conspired to defraud FIRS of N18.4 million were today arraigned before a Federal High Court in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.

According to the prosecuting counsel, Edeh Chinaso Odi in an eight count charge he filed before the court, the two accused persons and Adegbite, now at large, between April 2009 and February 2011 conspired to steal N18.4 million being withholding tax payment accruable to the FIRS from Sony Picture International Releasing and Universal International Pictures.

The two accused persons and their co-conspirators now at large at the same time and place allegedly counterfeited 18 FIRS withholding tax receipts.

They pleaded not guilty to the charge and their counsel Mr. Clegg asked the court to grant them bail through a written application he filed before the court.

However, the prosecutor opposed the bail application through an objection he filed before the court.

In his ruling, the presiding judge, Justice John Tsoho admitted the accused persons to bail in the sum of N5 million each with one surety in like sum.

The surety must be resident in Lagos, a landed property owner who will also show evidence of tax payment.

The matter was latter adjourned till 19 May 2012 for trial.

—Akin Kuponiyi