The House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts on Thursday summoned the Minister of Trade and Industry, Chief Niyi Adebayo, for the last time over the loss of revenue to the tune of over N32 billion by the Federal Government in the nation’s Export Free Trade Zones.
The Chairman of the Committee, Hon, Busayo Oluwole Oke (PDP-Osun), handed down the summon order on Thursday.
This followed the absence of the Minister who was expected to shed more lights on the claims of companies indicted by the office of the Auditor General of the Federation that the Ministry actually issued them with the alleged fake Certificate of Acceptance for Capital Allowance for Tax waivers.
The Multinational Companies in the Free Trade Zone were said to be parading fake Capital Compliance Certificates over the years, which had cost huge loss revenues expected to be collected by the Federal Inland Revenue Services.
According to Oke: “During the course of our investigations, the companies claimed that the Ministry issued them with Capital Compliance Certificates and in our wisdom, we decided to summon the Minister to confirm.
“We have extended several invitations to him, but as we speak, he is yet to honour our invitation
“The Minister should come and speak to the parliament on loss of revenue through non issuance of receipts for payment made to Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority, fraudulent practices on issuance of Certificate of Acceptance on Capital Allowances by Ministry of Trade and Industry Inspectorate Division
“Parliament cannot continue to wait for him and for the Nation to continue to witness more revenue loses.
“That’s why we are giving the Minister to cause appearance before this Committee to speak on the claims of the companies,
“Consequently, the Committee is calling on the Honourable Minister to appear in person before the Committee on this matter because it appears some people are colluding with the companies to defraud the Federal Government of its legitimate revenues, thereby making the government unable to fulfill its constitutional roles to the citizens.
“In addition, the Committee is reporting the Minister to his employer, President Muhammadu Buhari, to be aware how some of his appointees are carrying out their assignments.
“Consequently, an official letter on the matter should be forwarded to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Chief of Staff to the President, and the Minister of Justice and the Attorney General of the Federation for them to be aware of is going on.”
Oke however said that should Adeniyi still refuse to appear, the Committee would have no option again than to issue a bench warrant of arrest against him to make him appear unfailingly to speak to the parliament on the matter.
He made it clear that the Committee was not out to witch-hunt any individual or group but to perform its constitutional duties as lawmakers.
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