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EFCC Arraigns TSTV Owners Over Tax Evasion, Money Laundering Charges
Eko Hot Blog reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has on Thursday arraigned the owners of Telcom Satellites TV, TSTV, before the Federal High Court in Abuja, on a nine-count charge that bordered on alleged tax evasion and money laundering.
Those the anti-graft agency docked before trial Justice Inyang Ekwo were the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the indigenous direct-to-home TV service provider, Dr. Bright Ikechukwu Echefu, as well as the Executive Director, Dr. Felix Nnamdi Ignoanuga.
Telecom Satellites Limited and another company, Briechberg Investment Limited, were also cited as 3rd and 4th defendants, respectively, in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/254/23.
The EFCC, among other things, alleged that the defendants had on May 18, 2020, engaged in tax evasion, alleging that they failed to remit VAT, company income tax and Pay as You Earn, PAYE, deducted from salaries of about 165 staff members of the company.
It maintained that the action of the defendants was punishable under section 15 of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011, as amended in 2012.
The prosecution told the court that the defendants diverted to their personal use, various sums that included N33.9million, N13.5million and N19.4million tax money payable to the coffers of the federal government.
Besides, EFCC alleged that the 1st defendant, Dr. Echefu, defrauded a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Turaki Kabir Tanimu, of the sum of N960m under false pretences.
It told the court that the defendant, while acting as the Managing Director of the 4th defendant, Briechberg Investment Limited, on May 18, 2020, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N150m from Turaki, SAN, who was the Managing Director of Kalsiyam Farm, as loan to acquire modern equipment for his telecom company.
EFCC added that the said loan was paid into Briechberg Investment Limited’s account number: 1015561485, domiciled at Zenith Bank.
Meanwhile, all the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to them.
Though EFCC’s counsel, Mr. Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, applied for the defendants to be remanded in custody, however, following an application by their lawyer, Mr. Eyitayo Fatigun, SAN, the court okayed their release on bail.
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