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Facts emerged that Federal Government has recovered over N400 million accruing from import duty waivers from some private companies operating in the country.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives Committee on Customs chaired by Abiodun Faleke (APC-Lagos) mandated to investigate the waivers, has threatened to issue bench warrant against 26 companies that failed to submit relevant documents.
While giving update on the investigative hearing, Abiodun Faleke who confirmed the non-appearance of the 26 companies, pledged the Committee’s support for the anti-graft war of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
According to him, representatives of some the indicted firms who appeared before the House committee at an investigative hearing admitted their guilt and agreed to pay the duty on the imported items.
“You recall the House in plenary on December 9, 2017, mandated the committee to investigate these alleged infractions of import procedures leading to monumental loss of revenue to the nation.
“As you can see, we are not only concerned about how appropriated funds are utilized, but we are backing the government’s anti-corruption war by action of our own.
“We’ve gone out of our way to be revenue earners for the government and l can confidently inform you that companies that abused import duty waivers granted them have paid over N400 million into government coffers,” Faleke noted.
He however noted that, the committee has summoned additional 41 companies to appear in relation to the import duty waiver abuse and 26 so far are yet to appear.
He warned that all the companies invited are expected to appear on the date allotted to them unfailingly or risk sanctions by the House committee by next week Wednesday.
Another lawmaker who was privy to the activities of the Committee accused some of the companies that failed to appear had enjoyed customs waivers worth several billions of naira, of importing far and above what is required for the waivers they benefitted.
“A particular company imported tiles for over ten hectares of land in the name of building a five star hotel and so many infractions that the Customs Committee has unearthed since the investigative hearing started in March.
“We also discovered that most of the erring companies have too many things to hide and the committee members have all vowed to unravel all those involved and dig deeper into the probe,” the source said.
