EFCC arraigns company executives for forgery and tax fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on December 9, 2021 arraigned the duo of Engr. Hakeem Saka, Sani Abdulrasheed and their company, ECMC Engineers Limited before Justice A. A Fashola of a Federal High Court sitting in Jabi, Abuja for allegedly submitting a fake tax clearance certificate and audited accounts to secure a World Bank- Assisted Project with the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project, NEWMAP, of the Federal Ministry of Environment.

Count One of the charge reads, “ That you ENGR. HAKEEM SAKA, SANI ABDULRASHEED AND ECMC ENGINEERS LTD sometimes in the year 2018 in Abuja within the judicial division of this Honourable Court, did make a false document, wit: FEDERAL INLAND REVENUE SERVICE TAX CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE with Tax Identification Number 17756929-0001 dated 12th February, 2018 for assessment year 2015-2017 purporting it to have been issued by the Federal Inland Revenue Service by which you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 363 of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 364 of the same law”

The defendant however pleaded not guilty to the four count charges preferred against them.

Upon their pleas, the prosecuting counsel, Ekele Iheanacho asked the court for a date for the commencement of trial

However, the defence counsel drew the attention of the court to a bail application which he said had been served on the prosecution.

Justice Fashola adjourned the case till December 15, 2021 for ruling on the bail application and ordered that the defendants be remanded in the Correctional Centre.