Investigate Kashamu’s Firm Within 3 Weeks – Agf Tells Efcc
SAN FRANCISCO, March 23, (THEWILL) – The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate Kasmal International Services Limited, a firm owned by Senator Buruji Kashamu, and report back in three weeks.
This was contained in a three-paged letter, dated March 4, 2016, signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the federation, Mohammed Saidu Diri, and addressed to the EFCC Chairman.
The AGF, in the letter, demanded that the consultancy agreement, between Kasmal International Services Limited and the Nigeria Postal Service, for the collection of stamp duty from banking and other financial institutions in the country be investigated by the anti-graft commission.
The letter suggested that the agreement in question purportedly led the company to waive all arrears of remittances owned the Federal Government by commercial banks and other financial institutions in the country from 2004 till the commencement of CBN circular No CBN/GEN/DMB/02/006 of January 15, 2015.
“The chairman of Kasmal International Services Limited is one Prince B. Kashamu, who is a senator representing Ogun State in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Acting Post Master General/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Postal Service is one Mr. Enoch Ade Ogun,” the letter read.
“You may also need to interview Ibrahim Mori Baba, the former Post Master General of the Nigerian Postal Service and B.S Yakubu, Secretary/Legal Adviser of the Nigerian Postal Service respectively in the course of your investigation.”
A total of eleven documents were attached to the letter including letters from the Nigerian Postal Service such as: reference No. NIP/LSD/LSA/04/VOL.11/25 dated 30th October 2013; reference No. NIP/PMG/019/VOL. X dated November 6, 2013; reference No. NIP/PMG/019/VOL/XVIII dated December 4, 2015; as well as letters from Kasmal International Services Limited to the Post Master General.
The AGF argued that “in the Nigerian Postal Service reference No. NIP/PMG/181/VOL.11 dated 1st February 2016, the Acting Post Master General of Nigerian Postal Service confessed that there is no formal memorandum of understanding/contract MOU agreement between NIPOST and Messrs Kasmal International Services Limited stating any term of engagement.
“Yet Kasmal International Services Limited proceeded to grant a waiver to all Commercial Banks and Financial Institutions by letter dated 22nd December, 2015 all arrears of remittances from 2004 till 1st January 2016 which NIPOST was entitled under Section 89 of the Stamp Duties Act to collect as well as the 20 Naira penalty on every such unpaid remittances of 50 Naira as prescribed by the Stamp Duties Act.
“See also Kasmal International Services Limited letter dated 21st January 2016 to the Post Master General/CEO, Nigerian Postal Service, Abuja. The Honourable Attorney General of the Federation respectfully request that your Commission investigate this matter and submit a Report to him within three weeks of the receipt of this letter,” the AGF ordered and concluded the letter.
Story by David Oputah