The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede has tasked tax practitioners under the aegis of Federal Capital Territory Tax Practitioners Association on appropriate tax assessment and clearance.
He gave the challenge while hosting members of the Association, at the Commission’s headquarters in, Jabi, Abuja. Olukoyede who spoke through the Commission’s Secretary, Mohammed
Hammajoda noted that the job of the EFCC and that of tax practitioners align in ensuring probity and accountability in the system and urged the tax practitioners to always provide credible information that can help the Commission fight tax fraud.
“We cannot work if we don’t have information. Cooperation and collaboration from your own angle is key for us in fighting tax fraud. There is a lot of information that is in your domain which is not known to us, so let us exchange ideas and information. Our door is open for you at any point in time. We have a department that is called Fraud Risk Assessment and Control, (FRAC), which is driving the prevention mandate of the Commission before fraud or corruption even happens,” he said.
Speaking on the need for all Nigerians to identify with the anti-corruption fight, the EFCC boss stated that “The crusade against corruption is not only for the staff of the Commission, it is for all of us. It is for the betterment of all Nigerians.”
He identified the whistleblowing policy of the federal government as one of the ways Nigerians and tax consultants can key in and get involved in the anti-corruption fight. “The whistle-blowing policy is still here, anything you hear, even inside the bus, a small gathering, anywhere, let us know because we should be in the fight against corruption and economic crimes together. Fighting corruption is not only for the staff and the management of the EFCC,” he said.
Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman, FCT Tax Practitioners Association, Ben Enamudu disclosed that the members were motivated to visit the Commission by the need to foster collaboration with the EFCC in the fight against corruption, economic and financial crimes, especially in the areas of tax fraud.
“As tax practitioners, we consider ourselves as critical stakeholders in what the EFCC is doing. The core values of the EFCC are integrity, professionalism, courage and collaboration. It is on the premise of collaboration that we are here as stakeholders to say we want to partner with the EFCC in seeing that we are able to pull down economic and financial crimes,” he said.
Enamudu called on all Nigerians, irrespective of their professions to join hands with the EFCC in the fight against corruption, economic and financial crimes adding that Nigeria can only be free from the scourge if all hands are on deck against the fight.
“For Nigeria to be free from economic and financial crimes, all hands must be on deck. It is not the job of EFCC alone. It is not the job of ICPC alone. Everyone should be involved. We have come to say look, as tax consultants we are available for collaboration. We are willing to work with you. We are willing to learn from you and we are also ready to share our experiences over the years.
“At the center of most of the economic and financial crime that we deal with in Nigeria is tax evasion because most people that launder illicit funds usually don’t want to bring in their money into the tax net. So the idea is to use tax as a tool to fight economic and financial crime,” he said.
