Atiku's Company's Clampdown: APC Executive Member Says It's Political Battle

Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Timi Frank, has asked the Federal Inland Revenue, the NPA and other federal agencies not to drag themselves into the politics of 2019.

Fran said, “This is not the time to play politics with the issues of governance. Could it be another ploy to weaken Atiku ahead of his perceived ambition for 2019?” 

A statement he issued in Abuja in reaction to reports of sealing Integrated Logistic Services (INTELS) office, a company in which former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has interests, by the FIRS, Frank said the action could be a ploy to weaken him ahead of his perceived ambition for 2019.

Condemning the sealing of Intels by FIRS, Frank wondered why FIRS just realised the non-payment of tax by Intels and Export Free Zone also decided that Intels is operating illegally.

“It is pertinent to note that in the history since the establishment of Intels, no central government has ever brazenly persecuted Intels like this present government.

“The act of the FIRS, NPA, and FTZ as agencies of government is and can be seen to be a calculated attempt to humiliate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

“How come FIRS just realised the non-payment of tax by Intels? The export free zone just realised that Intels is operating illegally. If the agencies just realised all these, it means they have shown total failure in discharging their duties,” he stated.

Frank said government agencies should learn to follow due process in conduct their affairs. He warned them to thread carefully, saying: “My thoughts are that some political leaders, who are afraid of his profile, are hell bent on truncating his perceived ambition.

“Today is Atiku, tomorrow it can be any other person, and for this purpose, we must all stand against this impunity. Let’s all thread carefully as we strive for a better country and democracy,” he said.