The Nigerian Government has filed a six-count criminal charge against Nigerdock Nigeria Limited and seven of its directors over alleged tax evasion.
The charges, which were filed on November 26, 2024, at the Federal High Court in Lagos, stem from the company’s failure to meet its tax obligations between 2015 and 2018.
The directors named in the charge include Maher Jarmakani, Adewale Akanbi, Michael Akhigbe, Daniel Ayscough, Patrick Van Uden, Adebola Adesoye, and Rutger Ten Thij.
According to the Nigerian Government, Nigerdock and its directors failed to pay Companies Income Tax (CIT), Tertiary Education Tax (TET), and Withholding Tax (WHT), resulting in an accrued tax liability of ₦68,695,302.53, which includes the principal taxes, interest, and penalties.
The charges claim that between 2015 and 2018, Nigerdock Nigeria Limited neglected to pay tax liabilities, failed to file accurate and complete tax returns, and did not deduct taxes due to the Federal Government. The company and its directors are accused of evading tax assessments, remitting taxes owed, and failing to comply with withholding and education tax laws.
The offences, which are said to be contrary to various provisions of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Establishment Act and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Act, carry serious penalties under Nigerian tax laws.
The Nigerian Government is now seeking a legal resolution to ensure that the company and its directors fulfill their tax obligations. At the time of writing, no date has been set for the arraignment of the defendants.
