Updated: February 28, 2021
Nigerian activists on Friday petitioned the executive chairman of the federal Inland Revenue Service in Abuja asking for the 2015 and 2016 personal income tax receipts of Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of Nigeria’s main opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party.
The activists, who described themselves as “Nigerians committed to enthrone honesty and integrity in public office and the sustenance of true democracy”, accused Atiku of not paying taxes for several years thereby breaking the law and committing tax fraud.
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They said they were making the request under Section 1 (1) and (2) and Section 4 (a) of the Freedom of Information Act.
“Information at our disposal is that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar DID NOT PAY HIS Personal Income Tax for several years and only ran to the FIRS in April this year to pay the back-log of only his 2015 – 2017 taxes to meet up with the requirements of INEC.” they said in a statement sent to TODAY NEWS AFRICA in Washington DC.
“Hence, in filing his INEC forms, he only produced his receipt for 2017 tax which was paid in April, 2018. Kindly find attached his INEC forms with only his 2017 tax receipt. HE DELIBERATELY OMITTED TO ATTACH HIS 2015 AND 2016 TAX RECEIPTS”.
They warned that if they did not receive any reply within seven days, they shall be headed to court.
They also attached documents they said Atiku submitted to INEC.
Why it matters: Nigerians go to the polls in February to elect a new President and like in any election anywhere in the world, various candidates are unearthing dirt on one another. For President Muhammadu Buhari, it was the accusation that he did not complete high school as claimed in his submission to electoral body. It lasted for weeks and only died down after he was presented with a copy of his statements of results. Now, tax fraud is the latest accusation against Atiku.
REQUEST FOR THE 2015 AND 2016 TAX RECEIPTS OF ALHAJI ATIKU ABUBAKAR
We are Nigerians committed to enthrone honesty and integrity in public office and the sustenance of true democracy.
It is in this regard that we write to you under Section 1 (1) and (2) and Section 4(a)of the Freedom of Information Act to make available to us the 2015 and 2016 Personal Income Tax receipts of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar who is the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2019 Presidential elections.
Information at our disposal is that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar DID NOT PAY HIS Personal Income Tax for several years and only ran to the FIRS in April this year to pay the back-log of only his 2015 – 2017 taxes to meet up with the requirements of INEC. Hence, in filing his INEC forms, he only produced his receipt for 2017 tax which was paid in April, 2018. Kindly find attached his INEC forms with only his 2017 tax receipt. HE DELIBERATELY OMITTED TO ATTACH HIS 2015 AND 2016 TAX RECEIPTS.
As someone who continuously says he is interested in getting Nigeria and its economy working again, it is important Nigerians know whether he has been paying his Personal Income Taxes AS AT WHEN DUE.
Consequently, we request for his 2015 and 2016 Tax receipts to ascertain whether he paid his taxes AS AT WHEN DUE.
TAKE NOTICE that you are to meet our demands within SEVEN (7) working days of the receipt of this letter.
TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that if you fail, refuse and/or neglect to do so, we shall be heading to court to compel you to so do.
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