A group of young Nigerians has petitioned the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) urging the body to beam its searchlight on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, accusing him of tax evasion. The group, Committee for the Protection of Peoples Mandate (CPPM) led by the duo of Nelson Ekujumi and Solomon Sobade, wrote in their petition demanding that Atiku’s 2015 and 2016 tax receipts be made public.
In the letter to FIRS, the group said information at their disposal shows that Atiku 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.
“We are Nigerians committed to enthrone honesty and integrity in public office and the sustenance of true democracy,” the petition read.
“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.
“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.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.
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. Thank you.”
