Nami denies N11bn suspicious approvals
By Patience Ikpeme
Mr. Muhammad Nami, the former Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), has refuted allegations of authorizing a questionable N11 billion payment shortly after his departure from office.
In response to reports suggesting these payments, Mr. Nami clarified that he had briefed the Acting Executive Chairman on all decisions made during his tenure at the FIRS.
He expressed this stance in a rejoinder, dismissing claims of N11 billion ‘suspicious’ payments made after he left office, asserting that “the Acting Executive Chairman was fully informed of all matters.”
Furthermore, Mr. Nami insisted that every decision he made while serving as the Executive Chairman adhered to due process and was within the bounds of the law.
He noted that all decisions and outstanding liabilities of the service during his tenure were included in the handover notes he provided to his successor, Mr. Zacch Adedeji.
Addressing the specific payments in question, Mr. Nami clarified that the N5 billion allocated to the Joint Tax Board (JTB) was intended to support the Presidential Committee on Tax and Fiscal Policy Reforms, and this payment was executed two months before his departure.
He emphasized that this action was carried out in response to a letter from the office of the President, which was signed by Zacch Adedeji himself.
Additionally, Mr. Nami insisted that no payments were made by the service after the announcement of his pre-retirement leave, highlighting that “payment approval is just one step in the process, with final authorization typically made by the incoming Executive Chairman”.
Mr. Nami also reiterated his previous statement regarding the financial status of the FIRS, noting that he inherited only N1.4 billion when he assumed office and left behind N129 billion in the service’s coffers when he departed.
It’s worth noting that Mr. Muhammad Nami handed over his position to Zacch Adedeji on September 18, 2023.
