O.Adejo
Dumebi Kachikwu, the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, claims the tax fraud allegations levelled against him are completely untrue.
Kachikwu who founded Roots Television Nigeria is also the younger brother of former Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu.
Reports had started circulating earlier this week that Kachikwu’s assets were seized by the US government for non-payment of federal income taxes totalling $2.1 million and that the US Government had subsequently obtained a default judgement authorising the confiscation of Kachikwu’s assets in the country.
Kachikwu stated in a statement on Wednesday that the allegations of tax fraud levelled against him are politically motivated and propagated by his political opponents.
He claimed the allegations were the work of his detractors, who were dissatisfied with his victory in the ADC Presidential primary.
As a result, Kachikwu urged supporters to disregard the claims, stating he would be victorious in the 2023 Presidential election.
Kachikwu said, “Yesterday, I was inundated with calls and messages regarding a libellous and defamatory publication by an online blog known as Peoples Gazette,
“The publication accused me not only of tax evasion, but also of delivering cash bribes to a former US Congressman.” These are false.
“My campaign team received information a few days ago that one of the aspirants who lost in the recently concluded ADC presidential primaries was planning a series of smear campaigns against me.”
“When the IRS sued to collect the amount, my lawyers did not contest it and instead waited for a default judgement before proceeding to the next stage, which is making an offer in compromise to reduce the amount to be paid.”
The ADC candidate also denied allegations that he paid a bribe to convicted US Congressman William Jefferson to facilitate business deals in Nigeria during the administration of Olusegun Obasanjo.
Kachikwu, on the other hand, revealed that he was the one who reported the former Congressman to the FBI and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
“The report claimed I delivered a $100,000 cash bribe to curry the favour of the former US Congressman. This is another lie, as there is abundant evidence online proving that I was the victim who reported the US congressman to the EFCC and the FBI for defrauding my company.
“I have now instructed my lawyers to sue all digital media organisations that assisted in the spread of this falsehood.”
Kachikwu denies tax fraud allegations, demands justice