The deputy director, regional tax office, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Abumere Joseph Osagie has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for abuse of office and bribery. He was arrested following a complaint about his attempt to extort a University proprietor N5million.


Osagie and one Jamila Ojora had on January 27, 2016 allegedly approached Senator Ahmed Datti, the Chancellor of Baze University, Abuja and gave him a tax assessment of N20,029, 496.00 through a letter of intent, which he paid.

However when he requested for the assessment certificate, they refused to oblige him. Instead they allegedly demanded for N5million gratification. All pleas by him fell on deaf ears. Consequently, he petitioned the EFCC, and was advised to play along.

Consequently, marked N5million was delivered to the director through Ojora in a sting operation. Ojora was arrested after she collected the N5m. He confession led to the arrest of Osagie.

According to the spokesman of the Commission, Wilson Uwujaren, the houses of the suspects were searched by operatives of the EFCC , and documents recovered.