Fowler of FIRS allegedly on a ‘Secret Deal’ with Jimoh Ibrahim

While crude oil prices continue on their downward trend in the International market thereby placing the economic stance of Nigeria on dicey ebb, the Federal Inland Revenue Service headed by its Chairman Babatunde Fowler seems to be engrossed in tribal sentiments with his kinsman Jimoh Ibrahim that may cost government over N300m in tax.

It would be recalled that Jimoh’s Nicon Luxury Hotel was recently sealed off by the officers from the Federal Inland Revenue Service over unpaid arrears of tax owe government by Jimoh’s chains of businesses in Nigeria. The Field Operations Manager who led the other staff and police to seal off Nicon Luxury hotel described Jimoh as a habitual tax evader that should have long been jailed if Nigeria was a functional country.

It was alleged that Jimoh who was not in the country when the Hotel was sealed off immediately flew in from his base overseas to attend to the issue.  We revealed that Jimoh cashed in on his tribal affiliation with Babatunde Fowler leading to the reopening of the hotel 2 days after.  It was further alleged from a reliable source that Jimoh parted with around N20,000,000 to ‘silence’ the agency who had threaten to seal off all his investments on grounds of tax evasion and avoidance.

The money was said to have exchanged hand in one of the suites in the hotel at odd hours on Friday night preceding the reopening of the hotel on the following Saturday.

We confirmed that the over N300,000,000 tax owe government by Nicon Luxury hotel and other Jimoh’s chains of businesses may be a thing of the past as a deal has been struck by Mr. Fowler led FIRS and Jimoh.  Our source revealed that part of the deal between Mr. Fowler and Jimoh is that Jimoh would avail his hotel facility for use by FIRS.  Such facilities include halls for FIRS functions and rooms for top FIRS management staff for personal or official use.

If would be recalled that the FIRS inductees’ ceremony is currently going on in the same hotel FIRS had most recently sealed off.

‘Jimoh is a master at the game.  He understands the moral void that exists among so-called Nigeria leaders and he cashes in.  Jimoh and his likes will continue to get away with their unpatriotic act as long as sentiments of tribal and regional affiliations are strong among those who are saddled with leadership positions in Nigeria’

Mr. Fowler has been in the news of recent over allegation of tax refund to the tune of N7billion to a construction giant – Julius Berger Plc as excess tax paid by the company to government which many believed was an act deeply conceptualized to fleece government.  Fowler’s recent recruitment exercise was also believed in many quarters to be an exercise that did not follow Federal Character Rules and aimed at employing children and relatives of top APC chieftains.  250 of the names of people employed and 4 staff placed on Directorship level were alleged to have been handed down to him by his godfather –Ahmed Bola Tinubu and all from South West Geopolitical Zone.