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2023: ADC’s Kachikwu Dismisses Tax Fraud Allegations

2023: ADC's Kachikwu Dismisses Tax Fraud Allegations

The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Dumebi Kachikwu, says the tax fraud allegations levelled against him are false.

Naija News reports that Kachikwu is the founder of Roots Television Nigeria and the younger brother of a former Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu.

It was learned that the assets belonging to Kachikwu were confiscated by the United States government over non-payment of federal income taxes going up to $2.1 million.

According to Peoples Gazette, the US government has obtained a default judgement approving the confiscation of Kachikwu’s assets in the country.

In a statement on Wednesday, Kachikwu stated that the allegations of tax fraud levelled against him are politically motivated and propagated by his political opponents.

He asserted that the allegations were the handiwork of his detractors who were unhappy with his victory at the ADC Presidential primary.

Kachikwu, therefore, asked supporters to ignore claims, stating that he would emerge victorious in the 2023 Presidential election.

The statement reads “Yesterday, I was inundated with calls and messages over a libellous and defamatory publication by an online blog known as Peoples Gazette.

“The publication not only accused me of tax evasion but also accused me of delivering cash bribes to former US Congressman. These are untrue.

“A few days ago, my campaign team received information that one of the aspirants who lost out in the just concluded ADC presidential primaries was planning a series of smear campaigns against me.

“This amount was reduced to $2million and when the IRS sued to collect the amount, my lawyers didn’t contest it and instead waited for a default judgement in order to go 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 delivered a bribe to convicted US Congressman, William Jefferson to broker business deals in Nigeria during the Olusegun Obasanjo administration.

Kachikwu, however, disclosed that he was the one who reported the former Congressman to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The statement further read, “(The report) claimed I had delivered a $100,000 cash bribe to curry the favour of the former US Congressman. This is another lie as multiple evidence abounds online clearly showing 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 who participated in the dissemination of this falsehood.”

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