A taxpayer, Chief Godwin Obla, has described the invitation sent to him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged tax default as unlawful.
Obla, who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), had in a letter dated October 2, 2018 sent by his legal counsel, Dr Joshua Musa (SAN), to the EFCC posited that it was contemptuous for the anti-graft agency to invite him over alleged tax default when there was already a pending lawsuit over the subject matter before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Earlier, the commission had in an ‘Investigation Activities Letter of Invitation’, dated September 27, 2018 asked Obla to report in its office on October 4 “in furtherance of the ongoing investigation by the EFCC and FIRS on the tax performances of specialised professionals.”
Challenging the invitation by the EFCC, Musa, in the said letter written on behalf of his client argued that it was disrespectful of the anti-graft agency to take any further action on the case while there was a pending court order restraining it and the FIRS from taking further actions pending the final determination of the suit before it.
Specifically, he reminded the commission of the order granted by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court on July 25, 2018 restraining both the EFCC and FIRS from taking further actions on the case before the court
The legal expert reminded the EFCC that it must be aware that it is settled law that where a matter is before a court of competent jurisdiction, all parties thereto must maintain the status quo until the court disposes of same.
