Benue Youths Arise Movement Request BIRS Resolve Corruption Allegation Levelled By Anti-Corruption Vanguard.
By Naomisophyblog
……BENUE YOUTHS ARISE MOVEMENT (BYAM) gave a statement of request on 2nd March, 2023 to “The CHAIRPERSON BENUE STATE BOARD OF INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE (BIRS)” Makurdi Benue State following a receipt of a petition from Anti-corruption Vanguard alleging among others the involvement of the CHAIRPERSON of the BENUE STATE BOARD OF INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE BIRS and other top management officials of Corruption and abuse of office.
BYAM stated that the investigation began since 2022, having perused through relevant evidential attachments, the Organisation has cause to believe a prima-facie case of corruption has been established with respect to “some” top ranking officials mostly of directors cadre upwards.
Among the allegations include against BIRS top officials include:
(a) Ownership of shares in various companies against extant public service rules.
(b) Falsification of age and academic records by top management staff .
(c) Evasion of One year mandatory NYSC scheme by some top management level officials of the BOARD.
Consequently , in line with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, (FOI) as amended the organisation request the following information from the BENUE STATE BOARD OF INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE BIRS help in the investigation and to further satisfy the curiosity of BENUE people.
Kindly provide or cause to be provided :
1. Nominal staff list of all staff of the BENUE STATE BOARD OF INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE BIRS with their employment records up to date
2. Names and ages as reflected on Nigeria Immigration and Nigeria Identity Management Commision database , schools attended , academic qualifications of all staff as relates to the current employment status with the Board .
3. Evidence of ownership of shares or any bussines intrest if any, in public or limited liability company onshore/offshore .
4. Provide copies of assets declaration forms of the CHAIRPERSON and DIRECTORS of the Board as submitted to Code of Conduct Bureau.(CCB)
5. Provide list of all current contractors /consultants of the Board and the nature of services, cost implications , status of payment and outstanding balances.
6. Provide total cost of travel(local/international) expenditure incured by Board officials from 2021-date .
7. Provide details of conferences , workshops, seminars attended by Board officials with receipts of financial implications on the Board public purse from 2021 to date .
8. Provide total cost of the Board donations to individuals and corporate organisations with corresponding receipts/vouchers in line with relevant public rules from 2021 to date
9. A statement of clarification as to wether the CHAIRPERSON and top management officials are allowed to own shares in companies or maintain foreign accounts while still in the services of the Board
10. Provide a comprehensive budget allocation utilised by the Board from 2021 to date.
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BYAM noted that this request is made in good faith and without prejudice to the widespread calls for the CHAIRPERSON of the Board to resign; due to many notable infractions it is a process to strenghten the system that minimise growing incidents of corruption in public institutions.
They also stated that:
Failure to provide above information within (7) days as required by the law , the organisation shall join forces with the parent petitioners and mobilise BENUE people home and in diaspora for the mother of all protests until the Board yields to our inquiries or cause the CHAIRPERSON suspension or resignation.
Take further notice that, failure to provide above information, this organisation shall forward originating petitions with corresponding attachments to relevant authorities viz:
*The EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF BENUE STATE
Speaker /House of Assembly
Commitee on Public Accounts
All Benue(11) house of representatives
*Code Of Conduct Bureau
* Economic and Financial Crimes Commision (EFCC)
*Independent and Corrupt Practices Commision (ICPC)
* Board members of the BENUE STATE BOARD OF INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE BIRS.
Publication of Directors affected, top management officials has been suspended pending your response.
Joshua Alabama Gwebe, Ass. Executive Director made this available to the press.
