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FIRS Chairman Zacch Adedeji allegedly wades into on-going probe of Nigeria’s Accountant-General by ICPC

Attempts by one of Nigeria’s anti-graft agencies, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), to investigate a case of corruption against the Accountant-General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Sakirat Madein, may have suffered a serious setback due to alleged interference by the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), according to Sahara Reporters.

In a report published on Monday, the online medium noted that the alleged interference of the revenue boss, a close member of President Bola Tinubu’s inner cabinet, comes amidst growing concerns about corruption by public officials in the country.

Quoting “sources close to the matter,” SaharaReporters said the FIRS boss, Zacch Adedeji, was interfering with the investigation of Madein, who made history as Nigeria’s first female Accountant-General, and has been at the centre of controversy before.

It recalled that in January 2024, she was involved in a payment authorisation of N585 million into a private account, which sparked outrage and allegations of embezzlement. 

However, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, justified the payment, stating that it was for grants to vulnerable groups in several states. Edu has since been suspended by the President.

Adedeji was Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Revenue before his appointment as FIRS chairman.

The ICPC’s mandate is to investigate, prosecute, and prevent corruption, ensuring public bodies’ systems and procedures don’t aid corruption. 

As the Accountant-General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Sakirat Madein is responsible for managing all accounting functions related to federal receipts and payments. Her role is crucial in maintaining transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s financial systems.

According to sources close to the investigation, a dramatic scene unfolded at the ICPC office on September 23, 2024. While the Accountant-General of the Federation, Madein, was being questioned by ICPC officials, Zacch Adedeji suddenly arrived and demanded to see ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN).

Upon being informed that Aliyu was unavailable, Adedeji reportedly confronted the ICPC officers on duty, questioning their authority to investigate the Accountant-General without President Bola Tinubu’s approval. 

This intervention raised eyebrows, especially given Adedeji’s close ties to President Tinubu, having previously served as his Special Adviser on Revenue.

One of sources told SaharaReporters that the FIRS chairman was informed that the President does not authorise the investigation of any suspect and does not interfere in the investigation of suspects, including public officers. 

“Not satisfied, Adedeji demanded to see the Accountant-General who was in the interrogation room. He was accompanied to the room but was not allowed to talk to the Accountant-General of the Federation,” the source said.

Although the exact nature of his relationship with Madein, the Accountant-General of the Federation, remains unclear, sources suggest that Adedeji’s actions could be motivated by a desire to hide his connection to the probe.

Meanwhile, SaharaReporters learnt that the FIRS Chairman, Adedeji, has hired the former ICPC Chairman, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, as his Special Adviser.

Another source told SaharaReporters that prior to his appointment as FIRS chairman, Adedeji was investigated by the ICPC under Owasanoye and that his appointment of Owasanoye may be with the understanding that he destroyed his files before leaving the position as ICPC chair.

“We also heard he has hired the former ICPC chair Owosanoye as his Special Adviser with the understanding that he destroyed his files before leaving the position as ICPC chair,” the source said. “Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye was former ICPC chair, a law professor who got a job from a person he was formerly investigating for fraud after he left ICPC.”

President Tinubu appointed Dr. Musa Aliyu, who took over from Professor Owasanoye, whose tenure expired on February 4, 2024.

Madein was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari in May 2023. 

The outcome of the ongoing investigation may shed light on the extent of corruption within Nigeria’s financial management systems.

When contacted, Dare Adekanmbi, Special Adviser to FIRS Chairman on Media, denied all the allegations.

He said: “The Office of the Accountant-General is different from the Office of the FIRS Chairman. So, if ICPC has anything to do with them, why will he interfere? Why will he go there, for what purpose do you think that will happen? You know the Office of Accountant General, FIRS and other parastatal are under the Ministry of Finance. 

“So, if anybody is going to intervene, assuming without conceding that there’s a matter to be investigated, where do you think the authority lies in terms of the person that should intervene? It is the Minister of Finance if anything at all happened but I’m not saying that it happened, so why will they link it to my boss?

“So, that is not true, he never went there (ICPC office). Why will he go there? Why will he try to intervene? Is it to shield the person or what? No, he didn’t go there.”

On the disclosure by sources that Owasanoye has been appointed as an aide to the FIRS chairman, he said, “I’m not sure that is true because those of us who are his aides, we have meetings regularly and I have never seen him there.”

When SaharaReporters reached out to the ICPC spokesperson, Demola Bakare, he denied knowledge of the incident. 

“I am not aware on this incident,” he simply said.

Meanwhile, efforts to speak to the Owasanoye failed as he did not answer his calls. As at the time of filing this report, he had yet to reply to a text message sent to him.

In July, SaharaReporters exclusively reported that Adedeji, who is an executive secretary of the National Sugar Development Council, NSDC, employed his wife, Oluwatosin Adedeji, as Chief Accountant while heading the agency. This was revealed by documents seen by SaharaReporters. 

Adedeji, who is the current executive chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), was appointed to head the NSDC by former President Muhammadu Buhari in March 2021.

He was there until President Bola Tinubu appointed him as FIRS Chairman in September 2023.

The documents revealed that Oluwatosin was employed as the Chief Financial Officer of the agency on salary grade level 14 (SGL14 Step 1) without the required public service experience and “near empty files”.

Also contrary to the conditions of the council, Adedeji signed the appointment letter of his wife instead of the Director of Human Resources Management.

Sahara Reporters

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