Trial of top FIRS officials, ex-directors stalled over absence of defendant
Posted in CategoryTax Discussion-
IIheonu Nkechi Gloria 2 years ago
The trial of some top officials of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FRIS) and two former directors before Justice Bolaji Olajuwon of a Federal High Court (FHC), Abuja was, on Tuesday stalled.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the defendants; Mr Peter Hena, former Coordinating Director; Mohammed Bello Auta, ex-Finance Director, and seven other staff of the FIRS are charged with 42 counts bordering on corruption, fraud and criminal misappropriation of funds running into millions of naira.
The offence, according to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), is punishable under the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended in 2012).
The other defendants are Aminu Sidi, Umar Aliyu Aduku, Mbura Mustapha, Obi Okeke Malachy, Obaje Napoleon Adofu, Udo-Inyang Effiong Alfred and Benjamin Jiya as 3rd to 9th defendants respectively.NAN reports that the EFCC had, on March 11, arraigned the defendants before Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu and granted bail in the sum of N100 million with a surety in the like sum.
But they were re-arraigned before Justice Bolaji Olajuwon, on June 23, following the recent transfer of Ojukwu to the Calabar division of the court.
The trial of some top officials of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FRIS) and two former directors before Justice Bolaji Olajuwon of a Federal High Court (FHC), Abuja was, on Tuesday stalled.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the defendants; Mr Peter Hena, former Coordinating Director; Mohammed Bello Auta, ex-Finance Director, and seven other staff of the FIRS are charged with 42 counts bordering on corruption, fraud and criminal misappropriation of funds running into millions of naira.
The offence, according to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), is punishable under the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended in 2012).
The other defendants are Aminu Sidi, Umar Aliyu Aduku, Mbura Mustapha, Obi Okeke Malachy, Obaje Napoleon Adofu, Udo-Inyang Effiong Alfred and Benjamin Jiya as 3rd to 9th defendants respectively.
NAN reports that the EFCC had, on March 11, arraigned the defendants before Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu and granted bail in the sum of N100 million with a surety in the like sum.
But they were re-arraigned before Justice Bolaji Olajuwon, on June 23, following the recent transfer of Ojukwu to the Calabar division of the court.