A witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, David Ajoda has said Kogi State Board of Internal Revenue, KSIRS, paid the sum of One billion, One hundred and Sixty four Million, Nine Hundred and twenty nine thousand, five hundred and sixty nine Naira(N1,164,929,569) as commission to a Tax Consultant between January to August 2019.
The witness made this known before the Federal Capital Territory FCT high court in Abuja at the ongoing trial of former governor of Kogi state, Yahaya Bello and two others.
The prosecution witness also revealed that a sum of N952. 4M was withdrawn by the Tax Consultant from his account with Sterling Bank within the same 8 months leaving a balance of N212, 525, 569 in the account.
The multiple withdrawals were said to have been carried out by one Phillip Unar.
Ajoda, who is a Compliance Officer with Sterling Bank when led in evidence by EFCC lawyer, Professor Kemi Pinheiro SAN however admitted not knowing details of the tax consultancy business between Kogi State Internal Revenue Service and the Consultant.
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The witness told Justice Maryann Anenih that the tax consultant has over N2M in the account Prior to engagement of the tax consultant by the Kogi tax board, adding that credit inflows into the account rose immediately the tax consultancy business took off.
Under cross examination by Joseph Daudu SAN, counsel for Yahaya Bello and Umar Oricha, the witness admitted that the name “Kogi State Government” did not feature in the bank transactions.
He also admitted that bank account belongs to customer and that such customers can make withdrawals unhindered as long as such withdrawals are within the stilulated laws and the tax consultant did not breach CBN regulations in the multiple withdrawals, hence, no report of suspicion was made against the tax consultant.
He also admitted that there is a difference between Kogi state government and Kogi State Internal Revenue Service adding that the two are separate entities.
After listening to the witness and lawyers in the matter, Justice Maryan Anenih fixed February 10 for continuation of trial.
(Editor: Roluke Ogundele)
