N5bn EFCC Allegation: Ali Ahmad accuses KWSG of mudslinging, hunting political opponents

By Mumini Abdulkareem

Former Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Dr. Ali Ahmad,
has broken his silence on the allegation of misappropriation leveled
against him and other members of the 8th legislature by the Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The Speaker in his response to the allegation exonerated the 8th
Assembly of any fraudulent act and accused the government of
mudslinging and hunting political opponents with state apparatus.
The anti-graft body had alleged that the former speaker and members of
the last assembly connived with the Kwara State Internal Revenue
Service (KWIRS) to defraud the state up to the tune of N5billion.
This is coming on the heels of several denials from affected lawmakers
against the EFCC’s accusation including former deputy speaker, Hon
Matthew Okedare, immediate past House Leader, Hon Hassan Oyekele and
former chairman, House Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Judiciary,
Hon Kamal Fagbemi who issued a 21-day ultimatum to the anti-graft
agency to withdraw the allegation.
According to Ali Ahmad, the 8th legislature “I did not conspire with
anyone to swindle N5 billion or any other amount belonging to KWIRS
adding that the present administration should exit  campaign mode  and
face  governance.
In a statement issued in Ilorin on behalf of former lawmakers,
Tuesday, and signed by the former speaker, former chairman, House
committee on Finance and Appropriation, Hon Moshood Bakare legally
collected money from the revenue service unlike what the EFCC is
making people to believe.
“Without prejudice to his culpability, he (Hon Bakare) has since
negotiated to the satisfaction of the Commission to refund the amount
involved, not because a crime was committed but because he wanted back
his peace,” the Speaker noted.
He said, “Throughout the lifetime of the 8th Assembly, all Committees
had full independence regarding their operations and funds management
in accordance with the Standing Rules of the House.
“Let me also place on record that as former public officials, my
colleagues and I are ready anytime, anywhere and before any lawful
person or authority to make ourselves available for scrutiny regarding
any matter of public funds or any other matter of public interest.
“However, Kwarans doubt if the state government is interested in
finance of the state or rather in the old-fashioned bullying and
mudslinging against perceived opponents. Otherwise, how would you want
to pull down the whole house claiming a phantom N5 billion, where only
little sum was implicated and where just one honourable member was
involved?
“Our political history teaches that one of the signs of potential
failure of a government is using state agencies to bully the
opposition, or even potential opponents in the same political party.
In other fair and equitable democracies, such tactics has been a solid
ground for impeachment”.
The former speaker added, “A progressive, forward-looking and
serious-minded government of a financially-challenged state like Kwara
would have discreetly conducted forensic audit of past administration,
confront those officers with the facts and figures and par force
demand repayment, if any. Such government would have continuously
widened its tax net and uncover other latent sources of revenue for
the benefit of its people. Regrettably, even law enforcement agencies
allegedly marvel at the level of chicanery and intolerance of Kwara
State Government against  ex- officials.
“It is surprising that the present government in Kwara State did not
appear to know that when we worked with the past executive to create
the KWIRS in 2016 because the state IGR was around N500 million a
month, we were under no illusion that the move was unpopular and would
cause heavy political deficit. But we knew it was the only way to go
to secure the future of the state.
“Before long, the state became a model for other states in tax
administration. However, in trying to smear ex-officials, the present
administration in Kwara State could be causing collateral damage to
institutions strenuously nurtured like our Legislative House and
strong agencies like the award-wining Kwara State Internal Revenue
Service (KWIRS).
“Payment of tax is built on trust and when that is eroded through
false alarm on embezzlement, real or imagined, it will certainly
affect voluntary compliance with tax laws”.
He posited further that, “Whoever wants to recover Kwara money should
go elsewhere as the 8th House of Assembly did not deal in money
matters, contract awards or employment.
“The present Kwara State Government will do well to concentrate on
governance and exit the campaign mode for now. The 8th House of
Assembly in the state will resist attempts to get involved in any
tactics aimed at creating unnecessary distraction from governance.
When it is time for another campaign, it is then they will know
propaganda, media hype and spins are not their exclusive preserve”,
the statement added.
But the Kwara State Government on Wednesday rejected the accusation of
the former speaker.
In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye said, “A
careful reading of our statement showed that we neither accused him
nor the former House members of embezzlement. The EFCC did. And we are
aware that the anti-graft agency has started recovering stolen public
funds from PDP council members and House of Assembly members.
“Finally, we hereby accept the challenge Ahmad has thrown at this
administration. We will conduct a thorough investigation into the
activities of the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KW-IRS) and
make public our findings about what truly went down in the period
under discourse,” it submitted.