CSOs task Buhari to address N89trn stamp duty fraud

The Conference of Northern States Civil Society Networks has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to address issues around the alleged N89trn stamp duty fraud.

The conference is a forum of civil society networks operating in the 19 Northern states of Nigeria and Abuja.

A statement jointly signed by 20 state chairmen of the coalition of the CSOs asked the president to address the nation on the status of the alleged undercover committee set up to investigate and recover the accumulated stamp duty money in the interest of public trust and transparency.

The statement said, “We are worried about the purported humongous sums of money said to have been manipulated by some few individuals, while we continuously pass and sign into law appropriation bills with huge deficits, and whose implementation largely depends on borrowings.

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“We feel uneasy on the increasing Nigerian debt profile, and wonder how our nation, shall magically plan to survive with these humongous deficits in our annual national budgets. 

“Sir, Hon. Muhammad  Gudaji Kazaure, a member of the National Assembly representing the people of Kazaure, Roni, Gwiwa and Yankwashi Federal Constituency in Jigawa State, had on several platforms claimed that you had set up an undercover presidential committee headed by one Mr Adetola Adekoya to investigate the long accumulated stamp duty revenues.

The statement added, “In our humble opinion, it will be a major disservice to the nation, if you, as the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, continue to remain silent on this sensitive national issue, which has not only captured the attention of all Nigerians, but also the international communities.”

“This assertion is not only too sensitive to capture your attention but also the glaring desire to clear the air and vindicate the reputation of your administration, as some government officials were fingered in the alleged mess, as well as to save the integrity of our dear country, which is currently at stake,”