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Minister Malami refers dispute between FG, MTN to FIRS, customs for resolution

By Bridget Chiedu Onochie
14 January 2020   |   2:52 am
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) has transferred the lingering dispute between MTN and the Federal Government to the Federal Inland Revenue Service and Nigerian Custom Service.

Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN)

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) has transferred the lingering dispute between MTN and the Federal Government to the Federal Inland Revenue Service and Nigerian Custom Service. The Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations to the AGF, Dr. Umar J. Gwandu, who disclosed this last weekend, said the transfer was contained in a letter dated January 8 and addressed to MTN’s Counsel, Messrs. Wole Olanipekun & Co.

The letter read in part: “Having carefully and painstakingly reviewed the correspondence reference and following due consultation with relevant statutory agencies, the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has decided to refer the matter under reference to Federal Inland Revenue Services and Nigerian Custom Services with a view to resolving contentious issues.”The letter further read: “You may wish to be informed and be guided for the time being pending the outcome of the interrogation of the relevant statutory agencies.”

The Federal Inland Revenue and Nigerian Custom Services are the regulatory authorities vested with the powers of monitoring foreign exchange utilization and assessment of taxes as canvassed and contended by the parties in their respective submissions.The development is in line with oversight functions of Customs and Excise Management Act and Federal Inland Revenue Service relating to monitoring foreign exchange utilization and prevention of illegal trade in case of customs, and assessment, collection and accounting for tax and other revenues accruing to the Federal Government, as it relates to Federal Inland Revenue Service.

With this, AGF said his office will always demonstrate unflinching commitment to the rule of law and where all statutory agencies would be allowed to work independently with a view to fulfilling their mandates and recourse to them in contentious cases that border on their statutory mandate.

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