EFCC confirms quizzing former FIRS boss, Fowler, over fraud allegation

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has confirmed that a former Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Babatunde Fowler, is currently being investigated by the anti-graft agency.

It said that the ex-FIRS boss, who was invited this morning, was undergoing interrogation over an alleged fraud levelled against him while in the office.

Saharareporters had earlier this morning reported that Fowler was arrested by the EFCC and was being grilled in connection with an alleged N5bn fraud perpetrated under his watch.

Spokesman for the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed that Fowler was with the commission.

“Yes, Fowler responded to an invitation this morning. I believe he is still here,” Uwujaren said, but did not give further comments on why he was being investigated.

SaharaReporters recall that nine senior officials of the agency were detained by the EFCC over alleged multi-billion naira fraud in 2019.

But Punch reported that Fowler’s interrogation by the EFCC might be in connection with N100bn tax evasion allegation levelled against a tax firm, Alpha Beta Consulting.

Fowler was also a former Chief Executive Officer at the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service before his appointment as the FIRS chairman.

A former Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Alpha Beta Consulting, Dapo Apara, had accused the firm of tax fraud to the tune of N100bn.

Apara stated in a petition to the EFCC in 2018 that Alpha Beta, the firm given exclusive rights to monitor and collect Internally Generated Revenue on behalf of the Lagos Government, “has become an avenue for official corruption of government officials, a conduit pipe for massive money-laundering scheme, tax evasion, among other vices.”

In the petition which was written by his lawyer, Adetunji Shoyoye and Associates, the ex-CEO claimed that the fraud had been covered by powerful politicians in the state.