Muhammad Nami, the former chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), approved payments totaling billions of Naira to various contractors and consultants just two days after his abrupt removal from the position, according to documents obtained by TheCable. Nami's successor, Zacchaeus Adedeji, took over the role on September 14.
Sources familiar with the matter claim that Nami directed staff from the finance, audit, and internal affairs departments to work over the weekend to process financial transactions. Allegedly, files were transported from the FIRS headquarters to Nami's residence, where they were backdated and signed. Nami is also said to have transferred approximately N5 billion to the Joint Tax Board (JTB) account from the FIRS account.
Despite objections from the FIRS director of finance and accounts, Nami insisted that there was no cause for concern, assuring them that the incoming FIRS chairman would not discover the approvals. After approving these payments on September 16, Nami reportedly left the country.
The payments approved by Nami include over N5.6 billion, $863,293, and £8,780 for express payments to 196 beneficiaries, as well as substantial sums for workshops, training, consultancy services, and travel expenses.
The FIRS has not commented on the payments, and Nami's former spokesperson stated that he ceased to represent Nami after his tenure ended
