I Paid N5 Billion To Presidential Committee On Tax Reform: Ex-FIRS boss Nami Opens Up

Muhammad Nami, the former chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service has debunked a news report suggesting he approved questionable payments running into N11 billion moments before he went on retirement leave.

In a statement posted on X, Nami said the story was mischievous, designed to soil his image. He said he never made any payment after his pre-retirement notice was announced.

He then explained that N5 billion of the money in question was demanded by his successor, Zacch Adedeji for the use of the presidential committee on tax reform.

First and foremost, I want to categorically state that after my exit as FIRS Executive Chairman, I made no such approvals as claimed in the report.

It is important to note that no payment was made by the Service after the announcement of my pre-retirement leave as claimed by this story. Approval for payment in the Service is one step of a journey to payment.

It is the custom that when a new Executive Chairman resumes office, he would review, validate and make final authorisation before any payments can be made.

It is important to note for the record that all decisions reached and extant liabilities/ commitments of the Service during my stay in office are contained in the handover notes I made available to my successor, Mr. Zacch Adedeji. He is fully briefed on everything.

For clarity the items listed were part of the N16 billion outstanding commitments contained in our handover note.

The N5 billion paid to Joint Tax Board was paid to fund the activities of Presidential Committee on Tax and Fiscal Policy Reforms two months before I left office.

It was paid after we received a letter to that effect from the office of Mr. President signed by Zacch Adedeji himself.