The House of Representatives has mandated it’s Committee on Finance to initiate an urgent and comprehensive investigation into the non-remittance of tax revenues by Multichoice to the federation.
The committee has been directed to carry out the assignment with a particular focus on the suppression of information discovered from their submissions in their home country and report back to the House within four (4) weeks.
A member, Hon. Abdullahi Saidu, who moved a motion on the mater Wednesday said the systems audit and investigation revealed enormous indebtedness to the tune of over N1.8 trillion in back total taxes for MultiChoice Nigeria, and $342 million in Value-added tax, for MultiChoice Africa that had never paid any taxes since they started business operations in Nigeria.
The House therefore cautioned the potential buyers of Multichoice Nigeria, Multichoice Africa or any other Subsidiaries of the Multichoice Group operating in Nigeria to be aware of the alleged outstanding indebtedness which may have been covered in their papers.
The lawmaker noted that the Federal Inland Revenue Service had engaged a consultant in 2021 under a Whistle blowing contract to carry out an audit of the tax obligations of Multichoice Nigeria and MultiChoice Africa with a view to ascertaining the Company’s tax indebtedness to the country.
“Their findings led to a back audit and investigation carried out by the FIRS from 2011 to 2020,” he said.
He added that there are ongoing arrangements to sell Multichoice Nigeria and other Multichoice Group Subsidiaries in Nigeria to a foreign interest, while this tax indebtedness remains outstanding,” he submitted.
