Kogi Internal Revenue Service Board Suspended

The board of Kogi State Internal Revenue Service (KGIRS) has been suspended. 

A source within government circle confirmed to our reporter that the Chairman of KGIRS, Alhaji Aliyu Inda Salami was summoned to the government house on Monday. 

Aliyu and directors of the revenue board were ordered to vacate their offices within 10 minutes by a government delegation that followed the former chairman to the office. Responding to our correspondent’s inquiry, Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo confirmed that the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello has suspended the management of the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service with immediate effect and appointed an interim management committee to oversee the daily activities of the revenue service. 

He said the suspension was predicated on “violation of corporate governance in the service”, saying the State Government had to act to save the Service from further violations. 

“Yes, the Management has been suspended”, he said, explaining that the decision came as a result the 2019 Audited Financial Report of the Service. 

“The Governor is conscious of things that have to do with excellent corporate governance, transparency and accountability. 

“The 2019 Audited Financial Report of the service shows that their were infractions and the Governor had to take a decision to ensure the Service is repositioned. 

“In the place of the Management, the Governor has appointed an Interim Management Committee to oversee the daily affairs of the Service. 

“The newly appointed Interim Management Committee is to be chaired by the Hon. Commissioner of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning,  Mukadam Asiwaju Asiru Idris. 

Other members of the Committee are the State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Mr. Ibrahim Sani Mohammed, SAN, the Auditor General of the State, Alh. Yakubu Okala and the Auditor General Local Government, Alh. Usman Ododo while the Accountant General of the State, Alh. Momoh Jibrin is to serve as the Secretary”. 

When contacted, the Commissioner of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Mukadam Asiwaju Idris Asiru confirmed that they have met with members of the suspended Management Committee and told them to hand over to the most senior staff in their respective departments while the suspended Chairman has also handed over. 

Aliyu was appointed Chairman KGIRS in December 2018 to succeed Yakubu Oseni who now represents Kogi Central in the Senate.