Jimoh Ibrahim, FIRS disagree over arrest

A businessman and publisher of National Mirror and Daily Newswatch newspapers, Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim, is now in the net of Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Enforcement Unit for allegedly failing to pay over N6.2 billion tax regarding liabilities of Air Nigeria. In a swift reaction, Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim has denied media reports of his arrest and detention by the FIRS over N6.8 billion owed it by Air Nigeria. He described the report as wicked, concocted and sheer imagination of the writer. Ibrahim, who issued a statement yesterday shortly after the story went viral online, specifically fingered the story published by Sahara Reporters as borne out of mischief aimed at scandalising his image. He said he would have ignored the report but that there was need to put the record straight. He said: “Our company, NICON Group, purchased 48 per cent shares of Air Nigeria sometimes in 2010 and the Federal Inland Revenue came with alleged tax liabilities for the period of 2006 to 2010. “They claimed that he who buys assets buys the liabilities of the company. That was in 2012. “We requested for reconciliation of the taxes which was however not conclusive. “We closed down the airline and sold our shares to a commercial bank in Nigeria. Rather than pursuing the new owner for the taxes, FIRS instituted a civil suit against me at the Federal High Court. “Whereas, the same law of who buys the assets buys the liabilities should apply which is why FIRS should pursue the liability of Air Nigeria with the new owners.” On his encounter with officials of the FIRS, he explained: “Yesterday, the FIRS enforcement unit solicited my assistance about the new buyer, I opted to give them the full details and documents. “Before I finished doing that, I read in Sahara Reporters that I had been arrested and detained for N6.8 billion fraud which is not true.” Ibrahim explained that before he gave the FIRS the details of the new owners of Air Nigeria, he said the FIRS had alleged that Air Nigeria procured tax papers in 2010 for expatriates. “But I asked them how that concerned a board chairman. I asked them to ask the Executive Director (Finance), one John Nnorom whose responsibility falls under that. According to him, “we are genuine business people and we need a proper environment to operate our business.” When Daily Sun contacted the Director, Communications and Corporate Strategy of FIRS, Mr. Emmanuel Obeta, he confirmed the Air Nigeria liabilities. “Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim was invited to provide clarifications with regard to outstanding tax liabilities of Air Nigeria,” he said