TheCable

The senate joint committee on customs, excise and tariff and marine transport says it has recovered N120 billion from companies in its ongoing investigation into revenue leakage.

Hope Uzodinma, chairman of the committee, who disclosed this, directed Dana Group and 11 other companies to appear before it on Monday to explain their involvement in N30 trillion revenue “scam”.

In a statement, Uzodinma said this would be the last opportunity for the companies to appear before the committee.

The companies are A-kehnal Integrated & Logistics Limited, Don Climax/Skyaim, Gagsel International, Africa Tiles & Ceramics and Network Oil & Gas.

Others are IBG Investment Limited, BUA International Limited, Huawei Technologies, Indorama Petrochemicals, StarComms Plc, African Industries and African Wire and Allied.

The chairman said the committee had resolved to direct the Nigeria customs service (NCS) to start issuing demand notice (DM) to companies found guilty in the ongoing investigation.

According to him, the demand notice is to ensure the companies return monies due to the federal government.

He added that companies found to have been involved in round tripping and money laundering would be charged to court with immediate effect.

“The committee has only taken the first batch of the companies invited,” he said.

“Only 61 companies have been interrogated and over 2000 companies are still expected to appear before us.

“During the committee sitting on Friday, August 18, most of the companies’ representatives heaped praises on the committee for what they described as a thorough job.”

The committee had indicted several companies including Glo Mobile, Visafone, Crown Flour Mills, De United Foods,  ZTE Nigeria and British American Tobacco company which had denied the allegation.