Fowler returns to EFCC as grilling over Alpha Beta continues

Babatunde Fowler

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday continued its interrogation of a former chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Babatunde Fowler.

Mr Fowler is facing questions over the N100 billion tax evasion allegations levelled against a tax firm Alpha Beta Consulting.

The interrogation of the former FIRS chief began on November 2 over the tax returns of the firm which consults for the Lagos State Government on internally-generated revenue (IGR) in return for a commission.

A former managing director and chief executive officer of Alpha Beta Consulting Dapo Apara had accused the firm of tax fraud.

In a petition to the EFCC in 2018, Mr Apara said Alpha Beta “has become an avenue for official corruption of government officials, a conduit pipe for massive money-laundering scheme, tax evasion, among other vices.”

Before he was appointed head of FIRS, Fowler served as chairman of the Lagos Internal Revenue Service (LIRS).