MTN Nigeria, FIRS Under Probe Over Alleged N2.6trn Tax Evasion

The House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts is currently probing MTN Nigeria over alleged tax evasion.

The telecommunication company, Naija News understands is being investigated following dealings with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

At its investigative hearing on Tuesday, April 26, 2022, the house committee, led by Oluwole Oke, stated that the documents used to back the waiver were allegedly forged, which could affect the country’s economy.

The probe was initiated following a N2.6 trillion tax waiver granted to MTN by the Federal Ministry of Trade and Industry.

The lawmakers mentioned also that the certificates, which stand as evidence of the waiver, following valuation of MTN dealings by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), were not issued by the Service.

The investigation had commenced following audit queries issued by the Auditor General of the Federation on tax evasion. During the hearing, General Manager, MTN group, Yemisi Adeleye, said the Trade Ministry and FIRS used various documents to support the N2.6 trillion tax waiver, Naija News understands.

While she provided documents to defend the capital allowance, the House committee disagreed with her submission, stressing that it would probe the role of abuse of power in the tax waiver by the Trade Ministry and FIRS.

The officials of the Federal Ministry of Trade and Industry, as well as the FIRS, have been summoned to face the Committee on Public Accounts, and provide details of the waiver process.