The agency said the accusation is baseless and risks stirring political tension over an issue it considers routine and technical.

Aderonke Atoyebi, technical assistant on Broadcast Media to the FIRS Chairman, issued the agency’s response, saying the former Vice President’s comments distort how government tax channels actually work. 

She insisted there is no exclusive gateway and no company has been placed above others in the revenue-collection chain.

“The comments by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar are incorrect, misleading, and capable of unnecessarily politicising a purely administrative and technical process,” she said.

The tax authority explained that Nigeria currently operates a broad network of Payment Solution Service Providers. Quickteller, Remita, Etranzact, Flutterwave and XpressPay all run simultaneously, and the system, according to the FIRS, is designed to prevent any single operator from dominating.

The agency repeated the same point in stronger terms: “For clarity, the FIRS does not operate any exclusive or single-gateway revenue-collection arrangement, and no private entity has been granted a monopoly over government revenues.”

Why XpressPayments Entered the Picture

Xpress Payment Solutions Limited was recently listed as a collecting agent under the Treasury Single Account framework, allowing taxpayers to choose its platform, just as they would choose any other, when remitting statutory taxes. 

The FIRS stressed that this does not elevate the company above others, nor does it give it access to government funds.

Atiku Abubakar had argued that this resembles what he called a “Lagos-style revenue cartel”, warning that placing revenue channels in the hands of any politically aligned private operator could undermine public trust. 

He said the decision was made quietly and described the arrangement as state capture masked as innovation.

FIRS Counters Monopoly Claims

The agency dismissed those issues, insisting that PSSPs neither collect revenue nor keep a share of funds. All payments, it said, land directly in the Federation Account without being touched or held by any intermediary.

It reinforced this point again: “All payments made through the platforms go directly into the Federation Account without diversion, intermediaries, or private control.”

The FIRS also noted that recent reforms deliberately opened the space for more providers, not fewer. The intention, it said, is to expand access, increase oversight, and push financial-technology firms to innovate through competition rather than state preference.

Transparency and Reform at the Centre

Responding to Atiku’s claim of the wider process, Atoyebi said the onboarding of service providers is conducted through a transparent and verifiable procedure. She added that national tax reforms must not be reduced to political talking points.

“The reform has come to stay and should not be subjected to mischaracterisation for political gain.”

The agency then urged politicians to avoid framing operational decisions as partisan manoeuvres: “We therefore urge Mr Atiku Abubakar and other political actors to refrain from mischaracterising routine administrative processes for political gain. Nigeria’s tax system is too important to be subjected to misinformation or unnecessary alarm.”

A Continuing Disagreement

Atiku, who has repeatedly criticised the administration’s revenue and economic policies, maintains that placing XpressPayments in a sensitive role weakens institutional safeguards. The FIRS insists the system remains professional, transparent, and insulated from private influence.

Announced by Zacch Adedeji, FIRS executive chairman the exemption aims to ease financial pressure on citizens and promote economic inclusion.

The new tax framework, the most significant overhaul since Nigeria’s independence, also seeks to simplify the tax system, broaden the tax base, and support small businesses.

“With these new laws, food, education, transport, and agriculture will be VAT-free,” Adedeji declared. “The President has fulfilled his promise to make businesses flourish by removing all burdens and hurdles. This is the best thing that has happened to Nigeria’s fiscal ecosystem since 1960.”

Key Details of the Reform

• The reforms combine multiple tax statutes into a single consolidated tax code, scheduled to take effect in January.
• Businesses with annual turnover below ₦50 million will be exempt from certain taxes.
• Personal income tax thresholds are adjusted upward to protect low-income earners.
• FIRS will be renamed the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) to reflect its broader mandate across all levels of government, not just federal.

Implications & Context

According to Adedeji, the reforms are already showing results: Nigeria’s tax-to-GDP ratio has risen from 10% to 13.5% in two years, with a target of 18% by 2027.

States have reportedly used increased revenues to repay ₦1.85 trillion in debts, while debt servicing burdens have dropped.

Despite potential short-term discomfort, Adedeji likened the reform process to the “pain of a woman in labour,” stressing that current interventions are cushioning impacts.

He also noted that a petrol surcharge included in the new law will only be activated by ministerial order and officially published before it takes effect.

[Source: Punch Newspapers]

The FIRS launched the MBS platform to combat tax evasion, improve transaction transparency, and boost revenue collection.

Serving as the central hub for real-time or near-real-time invoice validation, the platform captures essential transaction details, from buyer and supplier information to quantities, prices, and taxes, replacing paper or traditional electronic documents such as invoices, credit notes, and debit notes.

With this development, Interswitch Group is now supporting the roll-out of ambitious national e-invoicing network projects across Nigeria and Kenya, two of the continent’s largest economies, following Interswitch’s selection by the Kenya Revenue Authority in 2024 as a technology partner, providing solutions for businesses to comply with the eTIMS requirements, including hardware and software.

The FIRSMBS initiative in Nigeria went live on August 1, 2025, starting with large taxpayers with annual turnover above ₦5 billion, after a pilot phase that began in November 2024.

Following industry feedback, the FIRS extended the onboarding deadline to November 1, 2025, to allow businesses more time for integration and testing.

Following this accreditation, Interswitch will provide a fully compliant e-invoicing solution that connects directly and securely to the FIRS platform, helping businesses meet regulatory requirements while modernizing their financial operations.

The solution supports both corporates and SMEs, enabling them to automate invoicing workflows, reduce manual errors, and access real-time reporting for faster, more accurate tax submissions.

Highlighting the significance of the recognition, Muyiwa Asagba, Managing Director for Commercial Inclusion (Interswitch Inclusio) at Interswitch Group, said the accreditation underscores the company’s mission to equip businesses with tools that deliver both compliance and operational value.

He said:

 “We are pleased to be recognised by FIRS as a trusted Access Point Provider. This accreditation reaffirms Interswitch’s commitment to delivering innovative, business-centric solutions that not only meet compliance requirements but also create operational value for our customers. Our e-invoicing solution has been built to integrate seamlessly with existing enterprise systems, ensuring security, accuracy, and efficiency at every step.”

“The e-invoicing directive is not just about compliance, it is an opportunity for Nigerian businesses to modernize their operations, enhance transparency, and embrace efficiency. We are here to make that transition seamless.”

With this milestone, Interswitch is cementing its role as a trusted technology partner to Nigerian businesses navigating a new era of tax compliance.

Backed by enterprise-grade security architecture, the Interswitch e-invoicing platform safeguards sensitive financial data while ensuring a smooth onboarding experience to the FIRS system.

By combining innovation, security, and deep market expertise, the company is enabling organizations to not only comply with the mandate but also unlock greater efficiency, transparency, and competitiveness in an increasingly digital economy.

The directive was disclosed by Wale Edun, minister of Finance and coordinating minister of the Economy, after Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) in Abuja.

Edun explained that the President specifically called for a review of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC)’s 30% management fee and 30% frontier exploration deduction under the Petroleum Industry Act.

He directed the Economic Management Team, led by Edun, to present actionable recommendations to the FEC on the best path forward.

The review will cover agencies including the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and NNPC Limited.

Speaking on the significance of savings and investment as a catalyst for growth, Tinubu said:

“Currently, public investment as a share of GDP stands at a low 5.0 per cent, largely due to insufficient public savings.

“We must urgently review and optimise our savings. This includes enhancing spending efficiency and reviewing deductions from the Federation Account, such as the cost of collection by revenue agencies, such as FIRS, Customs, NUPRC, and NIMASA.”

Citing the IMF’s Article IV Report published in July 2025, Tinubu noted that while it acknowledged Nigeria’s economic growth, it also stressed the need for investment-led growth. Identifying savings as the foundation of investment, the President aims to raise public savings by reviewing deductions and retention practices.

He reaffirmed his commitment to inclusive development, pointing to the recently launched Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme, which is designed to empower grassroots economic players, engage sub-national governments, and involve the private sector to ensure effective implementation.

He also urged state governors to prioritise productivity-enhancing investments and strengthen collaboration with local governments to tackle poverty.

The figures, presented by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and confirmed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) at July’s Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting, underline Lagos’ unrivalled dominance in digital transaction flows.

The Electronic Money Transfer Levy, introduced under the Finance Act 2020 to replace stamp duty on electronic receipts, imposes a flat N50 charge on bank transfers of N10,000 and above. Proceeds are shared among the federal, state, and local governments based on transaction origin.

June’s collections were up 5.41% from May’s N28.8 billion, bringing the first-half total to N183.7 billion.

When combined with N37.3 billion from stamp duty, non-import levy receipts for January–June hit N221 billion.

After Lagos, the Federal Capital Territory ranked a distant second with N1 billion (3.32%), followed by Rivers (N892.5m), Anambra (N866.4m), and Delta (N796.6m). Jigawa (N91m), Gombe (N98.2m), and Zamfara (N104.7m) sat at the bottom of the table.

Analysts say Lagos’ dominance is no surprise, it is Nigeria’s commercial hub, home to the bulk of formal businesses, fintech operations, and payment gateways, making it the natural clearing point for most high-value electronic transfers.

June’s performance also showed that while Electronic Money Transfer Levy revenues remain steady, stamp duty is far more volatile. May’s stamp duty intake hit N11.9 billion, over 31% of the six-month total, before dropping sharply to N2.79 billion in June.

If current trends hold, EMTL alone could bring in an annualised revenue exceeding N360 billion, cementing its role as a key non-oil revenue source for the federation.

The partnership aimed at bolstering the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, was unveiled during the media engagement meeting for ANNIH S2 at TRANSCORP HILTON Abuja recently.

The organisers have stated that the season 2 of A New Nigeria Is Here documentary series will commence airing on August 12^th, 2025 on CHANNELS NETWORK, NEWS CENTRAL Africa with a review on CNN and special Unicorn editions on CNBC Africa, AIT NETWORK, TVC and ARISE NEWS, to reach every corner of the globe through the YouTube Channels, Africa Got Stories.

Speaking at the media parley, Mr. Jide Peters, Project Coordinator of ANNIH, said,

“This isn’t just a documentary series; it’s a cinematic journey, a weekly exploration into the heart of Nigeria’s transformative odyssey and economic drivers under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope.”

“With the endorsement of the Presidency, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris Malagi, and executive oversight from the Office of the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, this landmark project is poised to amplify Nigeria’s powerful emergence as Africa’s undeniable innovation and economic powerhouse”, he added.

He said,

“ANNIH S2 is more than a documentary series; it is a vibrant tapestry woven from public and private sector triumphs, blending exclusive, candid interviews with grassroots storytelling and profound policy insights. Each compelling 30-minute episode promises to captivate an estimated 300 million viewers globally.”

This season delves deep into the key pillars defining Nigeria’s “Fennaissance” (Financial + Renaissance), which is economic renaissance unpacking the bold reforms in fiscal policy, the relentless drive in infrastructure development, and the explosive growth in digital innovation that are propelling Nigeria toward its ambitious goal towards a $1 trillion economy.

Mr. Peters stated that the rise of Nigeria’s industrial hubs, from Lagos to Aba, to Nnewi and the policies unlocking private-sector growth is well told in the documentary series of ANNIH season 2.

Speaking about the ANNIH, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, Chairman of Innoson Group said, “We are supporting this New Nigeria Project. It is the best. Let everybody support this system that the present government is talking about buying made in Nigeria products. Buying made in Nigeria products is the only way to move this country forward”.

In the same vein, the CEO of BOI, Dr Olasupo Olusi, stated that “I Am looking forward to a Nigeria where every young person in this country believes that this country would work for them. We must make sure that we build the kind of Nigeria that we want to see. A NEW NIGERIA Is here” he added.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris Malagi said, “We are seeing an investment in the future of not just our Children, but our grandchildren that is already beginning to manifest. Mr President is returning this country to prosperity. I am proud to be a Nigerian. A New Nigeria is indeed here”

Meanwhile the executive chairman of FIRS, Dr. Zacch Adedeji encouraged Nigerians to support the new initiative and work to support the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

“We are supporting and working with Mr President’s vision to actually banish poverty in Nigeria.” Adedeji added.

Youth and innovation have become shining a spotlight on the dynamic of young entrepreneurs, the burgeoning tech unicorns, and the resilient SMEs that are courageously reshaping industries from the fintech revolution such as Flutterwave, Interswitch to agricultural revitalization (NALDA) and the promise of clean energy are some glittering examples of what the Renewed Hope Programmes have offered.

“Public-Private Synergy Documenting the high-impact collaborations forging a new path for progress, showcasing the seamless dance between vital institutions (NDIC, FIRS, BOI) and private giants (Innoson Group, BUA Group) collaborating to reshape Nigeria’s economic landscape.”

He said, “Global Repositioning Directly countering outdated stereotypes by powerfully showcasing Nigeria’s investment-ready sectors, Debunking myths and showcasing Nigeria as the premier investment destination in Africa, with insights on dollar liquidity reforms, tax incentives, and sectoral opportunities.  beckoning both the diaspora and international investors to join in this monumental growth story.”

The Project Coordinator of ANNIH S2 revealed that the major partners driving the Season2 of ‘A New Nigeria is Here Unicorn docu-series are: Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM) Motors, Bank of Industry (BOI) – Ministry of Finance, FIRS, Alami Capital, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Nigerian Midstream & Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA), Air Peace, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) and Sahara Group.

“ANNIH S2” features bringing together an illustrious lineup of contributors, influential leaders, innovators and unsung heroes who are the architects and drivers of the new Nigeria.

From Government, Wale Edun, Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Adebayo Adelabu, Minister of Power, Ayodele Olawande, Minister of Youth Development, Kafilat Ogbara, Member, House of Representatives, Mohammed Idris Malagi, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development) and Senator John Owan Enoh, Minister of Industry-State will feature.

Featuring from the private Sector end are Olugbenga “GB” Agboola, CEO, Flutterwave, Samuel Chen, CEO, Felicity Solar, Olu Olufemi-White, CEO Alami Capital, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, Founder & Chairman, Innoson Group, Samuel Ogbodo, MD/CEO, SUNU Assurances Nigeria PLC, Kola Adesina, Group Managing Director, Sahara Group, and Mitchell Elegbe, MD & Group CEO, Interswitch.

Those from Regulatory Bodies include Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, DG/CEO, NITDA, Cornelius Oluwasegun Adebayo, Executive Secretary/CEO, NALDA, Dr. Olasupo Olusi, MD/CEO, Bank of Industry, Abba Abubakar Aliyu, MD, Rural Electrification Agency, Engr. Farouk Ahmed of NMDPRA, Engr. Uzoma Nwagba, MD/CEO, Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation, and Engr. Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz, MD/CEO, Transmission Company of Nigeria among others.

From the Law Enforcement and Security, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi and Executive Secretary, Nigeria Police Trust Fund, Mohammed Sheidu have featured as well as some grassroots unsung heroes in rural agripreneurs, innovative tech founders, and community leaders whose daily efforts are shaping the future and rewriting Nigeria’s Story from the ground up.

Lead Project Africa, the Project Consultant for A New Nigeria is Here, is a strategic consultant to the Presidency on economic development Projects.

“Our focus is to unveil and project in a good light on all local and international platforms, the outstanding deliverables of private and public sectors of the nation’s economy without compromise,” Peters added.

The new tax laws were also targeted at removing duplication, boosting investor confidence, and making the system fairer and more transparent.

The signing ceremony, which took place on Thursday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, marked what the President described as a “bold and foundational shift” in Nigeria’s fiscal policy direction.

The four bills signed into law include the Nigeria Tax Bill (Fair Taxation), Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill.

With the Bills signed into law, the Federal Government will commence the process of transmuting the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS). READ MORE HERE.

The resumption of the new workers marks the culmination of a recruitment process into the tax watchdog under his watch.

He said the induction of the new recruits followed a rigorous nationwide selection process under the “Work With Us” initiative — a cornerstone of Adedeji’s vision to transform FIRS into a high-performing, people-driven organisation capable of driving Nigeria’s economic resilience.

Speaking at the formal induction ceremony on Monday, the FIRS chairman reportedly described the recruits as “co-architects of our unfolding future,” urging them to see their new roles not merely as jobs but as critical contributions to national development.

“Today does not simply mark the commencement of your employment,” Dr. Adedeji said, according to a statement that was issued by his special adviser on communications and advocacy, Collins Omokaro.

“It signals the beginning of a profound personal and national journey — one where your talents, dedication, and values will directly strengthen Nigeria’s fiscal stability and advance our collective developmental aspirations.”

He emphasised that the ongoing transformation within FIRS rests on three interdependent pillars — People, Processes, and Technology — with human capital at the core. According to him, even the best tools are powerless without competent individuals to deploy them.

“Technology is not a substitute for competence,” he stated. “It is a catalyst that will empower us to execute our duties with precision, speed, and impact.”

Adedeji reiterated his commitment to institutional capacity-building, noting that upon assuming office, he set a target for 80 percent of FIRS work to be executed by in-house staff — a move aimed at reducing dependency on external consultants and enhancing institutional integrity.

The recruitment exercise that led to the current induction was intentionally structured to be fair, inclusive, and merit-based. The application process attracted thousands of entries nationwide and was followed by a comprehensive digital screening phase.

Top-performing candidates progressed to virtual interviews conducted across 10 coordinated rooms, with FIRS senior leadership directly involved in the assessment.

Candidates were evaluated on both technical competence and alignment with the Service’s core values of integrity, accountability, and national service.

“This exercise has proven that government recruitment can be transparent, competitive, and values-driven,” Adedeji noted.

The induction programme aims to provide the recruits with a solid foundation in tax administration, digital systems, and public service ethics. It also includes modules on the FIRS 2025 Roadmap — a strategic blueprint designed to reposition the agency as a critical driver of national economic growth.

Adedeji challenged the new employees to embrace the Service’s evolving role not just as a revenue collector but as a strategic enabler of Nigeria’s economic resilience.

“FIRS is becoming a trusted partner to businesses and a responsible steward of Nigeria’s financial architecture,” he said. “You are not here to warm seats. You are here to lead a new chapter.”

The chairman quoted a Yoruba proverb:

“A child not well-educated will sell the house built.” He used the saying to underscore the importance of investing in people as the true safeguard of any institution’s legacy.

The latest is the dismissal of the suit by Justice Akpan Okon Ebong of the FCT High Court, who struck out the case filed by Mr. Femi Falana SAN, purporting to act on a fiat donated to him by the Attorney General and Minister of Justice of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi SAN, against the Chairman of Zinox Technologies, Mr. Leo Stan Ekeh, and 12 others.

The other defendants are Mr. Chris Eze Ozims, Oyebode Folashade, Charles Adigwe, Obilo Onuoha, Agartha Ukoha, Anya O. Anya, Femi Dosumu, Nnenna Kalu, Admas Digital Technologies Limited, Technology Distributions Limited and Zinox Technologies Limited.

In the suit No. FCT/HC/CR/985/24 filed in November 2024, Falana, on behalf of his client, Benjamin Joseph, the CEO of Citadel Oracle Concept Limited, an Ibadan-based computer firm, filed charges against Ekeh, 9 other individuals and 3 companies before the Federal High Court in Abuja for allegedly diverting N162,247,513.80 being payment for laptop supply contract at the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Headquarters which Technology Distribution Ltd (now TD Africa), the biggest tech equipment distributor in sub-Saharan Africa supplied on behalf of Citadel in 2012.

However, in the certified true copy of the judgment dated March 20, 2025, Justice Ebong ruled as follows: “It is my conclusion based on the foregoing that this charge (No. FCT/HC/CR/985/2024, Federal Republic of Nigeria v Leo Stan Ekeh and 12 ORS) constitutes a gross abuse of court process and is liable to dismissal. I accordingly hereby dismiss it.”

Before arriving at his judgment, which has put the final nail in the coffin of a case that other courts had also dismissed in the past as dead on arrival, Justice Ebong considered the outcome of previous cases and petitions filed by Mr. Joseph, none of which was in his favour.

Justice Ebong said:

“One intriguing aspect of this matter is that none of the law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation of the nominal complainant’s (Mr. Joseph) numerous petitions has found merit in any of his allegations against the defendants. When called upon before Senchi J. (Justice Danlami Z. Senchi) to prove his said allegations to the court, he failed to turn up in court. One then wonders on what premise he wants to maintain this campaign of persecution against the defendants.”

Previous judgments on the matter had established that rather than being the culprit, Ekeh and the 12 others were actually the victims of a failed money diversion scheme plotted by Mr. Joseph and Citadel.

When contacted, one of the defendants, Mr. Chris Eze Ozims, a lawyer, said:

“This ruling truly reflects our consistent position on the allegations, and it is good that we have been vindicated, once more, by a competent high court.”

He asserted that the judgment of Justice Ebong was consistent with the position of the defendants and in tandem with the rulings of other judges who had previously adjudicated on the same matter.

Chief counsel to the defendants, Mr. Matthew Burkaa SAN, described the judgment as a victory for integrity and the rule of law.

Court papers showed that Falana’s suit was based on the same claims that various courts had dismissed in the past as falsehood and baseless.

The case arose from a contract between Citadel and Technology Distributions Limited over the supply of computers to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), a project fully funded by Technology Distributions and has no bearing whatsoever with Zinox and its promoter, Mr Leo Stan Ekeh.

It will be recalled that Mr. Joseph had lost the case and its adjunct suits at different courts in the past. In his petition to the police in 2013, police authorities discovered that Mr. Joseph provided false information to the police, prompting the Inspector General of Police to charge him for false information in charge no.CR/216/16.

In another case filed by the EFCC in his instance against his partner, Princess Kama, in charge no. FCT/HC/CR/244/2018,  Honorable Justice Danlami Z. Senchi of the FCT High Court (as he then was) dismissed as false all the allegations made by Benjamin Joseph, and imposed the sum of N20 million as damages against him for false petitioning in relation to these same allegations.

Earlier court papers showed that Joseph, in his statement on oath in suit No:LD/4335/2014 in the High Court of Justice, Lagos State, dated June 28, 2019, averred that his company, Citadel, did not execute any contract with FIRS and that he was not aware that a contract had been awarded to Citadel.

In his deposition under oath, Joseph claimed that Citadel “did not at any time execute any contract for the FIRS and neither did the 2nd defendant (Princess O. Kama) who is its agent in respect of the contract it bid for with the FIRS deliver/release any documents to the Claimant (Citadel) indicating that the contract it bid for, or any other contract was awarded to it by the FIRS or any other body.”

However, a letter from the FIRS addressed to the chamber of Afe Babalola & Co dated February 11, 2014 (FIRS/PD/GDS/2559) and signed by one Idrissa Kogo, Head Legal Department, stated: “Contrary to your client’s claim that they knew nothing about the execution of the contract awarded to them and that they did not receive any payment for the execution of the contract, our record reveals otherwise.

“Your client instructed FIRS through a letter dated December 13, 2012, to deal with Princess O. Kama (Your client’s agent) in relation to the contract. Through three separate letters dated December 20, 2012, your client instructed FIRS to pay to the client’s account with Access Bank plc. Please note that FIRS acted in compliance with your client’s instruction and with due diligence,” the FIRS letter stated.

The FIRS letter was a response to inquiry by Afe Babalola Chamber, lawyers to Citadel Oracle Concept Ltd and its MD, Mr. Benjamin Joseph, at that time.

The current charges filed by Falana on the basis of a fiat from the Attorney General is the third in a row as Mr Joseph had earlier filed charge no.CR/469/2022, which was struck out by Honorable Justice C. O. Oba of the FCT High Court, by an order dated November 8, 2022.

Determined to push through with his case, Mr Joseph filed the same charges before Honorable Justice A. S. Adepoju of the FCT High Court, and the charges were, once again, struck out by the Honorable Court on March 19, 2024, with Honorable Justice Adepoju holding that:

“This matter was brought in dead, extinct and should be confined into the dustbin of history…I hold that the instant suit is an abuse of the process of court, and it is hereby struck out accordingly.”

This development allows the FIRS to leverage Flutterwave’s payment infrastructure to collect taxes, levies, and other payments from businesses and individuals across Nigeria, alongside platforms like Remita already in that space.

Flutterwave’s payment technology simplifies tax payments for individuals, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), and large corporations, ensuring a fast, transparent, and accessible tax payment experience.

By integrating with the FIRS, Flutterwave provides diverse digital payment options, real-time reporting and tracking, offline tax payment capabilities, and a secure payment system for Nigerians both at home and in the diaspora. 

Olugbenga ‘GB’ Agboola, CEO of Flutterwave, stated: 

“At Flutterwave, we are committed to leveraging technology to drive efficiency and economic growth. By making tax payments easier and more transparent, we are helping to digitize government collections and support national development which is in line with our mission” 

This integration also brings key advantages, including real-time reporting and tracking of payments, diverse digital and mobile payment options, offline tax payment capabilities, enhanced transparency for both taxpayers and the FIRS, and providing Nigerians in the diaspora an avenue to seamlessly pay their taxes.

These advancements align with the FIRS’ commitment to modernizing government collections and improving user experience.

Olufunmilayo Olaniyi, Senior Vice President, Business Development at Flutterwave, emphasized the company’s dedication to serving Nigerians: 

“Working with the public sector is pivotal to shaping the future of digital payments in Nigeria. This underscores our commitment to delivering solutions that serve Nigerians better, foster trust, and drive impactful innovation through strategic collaboration”

 With its proven track record across Africa, Flutterwave continues to play a key role in public sector digitization efforts in Nigeria.

In 2024, Flutterwave also partnered with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to establish a cybercrime research center, reinforcing its dedication to financial security and innovation.

As one of the primary fintechs facilitating government tax collections, Flutterwave remains at the forefront of financial technology solutions that enhance business operations and enable growth across Nigeria and beyond.