CurrentReport Blog The Federal Government has filed a six-count criminal charge against Nigerdock Nigeria Limited and seven of its directors over alleged tax evasion. The charges were filed at the Federal High Court in Lagos on November 26, 2024.
The directors listed in the case include Maher Jarmakani, Adewale Akanbi, Michael Akhigbe, Daniel Ayscough, Patrick Van Uden, Adebola Adesoye, and Rutger Ten Thij.
Allegations of Tax Evasion
The government, represented by its counsel Moses Ideho, accused the defendants of failing to remit taxes totaling N68,695,302.53 between 2015 and 2018. The charges allege that the unpaid taxes include:
- Company income tax
- Tertiary education tax
- Withholding tax, along with accrued interest and penalties.
These alleged infractions contravene provisions of:
- Sections 40, 26, and 27 of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Establishment Act 2007 (as amended).
- Section 82 of the Companies Income Tax Act (CITA), punishable under Section 8.55 of CITA (as amended).
- Section 11 of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (Establishment) Act 2011.
Legal Implications
The charges highlight the government’s ongoing commitment to enforcing compliance with tax laws and addressing financial irregularities. If convicted, the accused parties could face significant penalties under the relevant legal frameworks.
Next Steps
As of now, no date has been set for the arraignment of Nigerdock Nigeria Limited and its directors.
