Alleged N5b Fraud: How Awodun-led KWIRS operated finances – Insider

By Matthew Denis

Following the noise generated by the ongoing investigation of the
Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KWIRS) by the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), a top member of the service under
Prof Murtala Awodun has explained how the state finances were operated
during the last administration.
The former top official who spoke in confidence with National Pilot
for fear of political witch-hunt and the fact that the issue is still
under investigation, last night, described the latest development as
politically motivated capable of destroying the revenue agency in the
state.
The EFCC last week invited Awodun, former commissioner for Finance,
Engr. Nurudeen Ademola Banu, chairman of the House Committee on
Finance and Appropriation in the 8th Kwara Assembly, Hon Moshood
Bakare among others over alleged misappropriation of N5 billion from
2015 to 2019.
Several calls to the immediate past chairman of KWIRS, Prof. Awodun
seeking clarification on the issue were not answered. Also, response
to a text message sent to him on the matter was still being awaited
before this paper went to bed, last night.
But in his reaction to the issue, a top source who has deep knowledge
of the financial operations of the service under Awodun described the
latest onslaught by the anti-graft agency as nothing but “vendetta
war” which is capable of eroding the giant strides and achievements
the service has made since its establishment.
According to him, the Awodun-led management engaged consultants on its
matters of finance in line with laid down rules and regulation of the
revenue agency in accordance with global best practices.
He said: “The revenue agency (KWIRS) engaged consultants for
operations according to global best practices and with proper
engagements and agreements on terms and conditions. They operated
within the confines of the terms and protected the interests of the
state and the service in all of these engagements.
“They (consultants) earned and received commissions due to them only
and the service at no time diverted funds due to the state for (any)
other purposes,” the insider noted.
On the implication of the present development on the service and the
state, the former official criticised the ruling administration for
playing politics with the finances of the state adding that there are
better ways to investigate issues like this (if at all they want to
investigate) instead of the present media trial that had trail the
whole process.
“All of these allegations are politically motivated and the danger is
that it is capable of destroying the system, the people and the trust
of the residents in the service. Moreover, the state may face an
unprecedented set-back in revenue generation.
“It is easier to destroy than to build. What took four years to build
can easily be destroyed by this political vendetta war that is being
unleashed rightly or wrongly.
“There are better ways to investigate things like this without
jeopardising the interest of the state and destroying the system in
the process”, the source added.