EFCC ‘traces N9.2bn Alpha Beta, LIRS cash to Babatunde Fowler’s account’
Former chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Babatunde Fowler is reportedly in fresh trouble with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Fowler is being investigated over multiple cases of allegedly corrupt dealings said to have taken place under his watch.
Reports now say a fresh N9.2bn was traced to Fowler’s personal account from the Lagos Inland Revenue Service (LIRS) and private revenue-collection firm Alpha Beta. The EFCC, Monday, grilled Fowler over the fresh allegations.
Former Lagos governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu is one of the individuals named in the alleged Alpha Beta scam.
On November 2, the EFCC invited Fowler for questioning over a N5 billion fraud allegedly perpetrated while he headed LIRS. In 2019, nine senior officials of the agency were detained by the EFCC over alleged multi-billion-naira fraud in 2019.
President Muhammadu Buhari fired Fowler in 2019 after a query for worsening tax revenues since 2015.
The former FIRS boss was also accused of a lavish lifestyle, bankrolling extravagant parties and concerts in Lagos, poor corporate governance structures at the FIRS, poor audits at the FIRS, high handedness in office, diversion of funds, brazen corruption and awarding contracts to stooges and cronies.
