FG Charges Saipem, Directors Over Alleged N66.4bn, $938,080 Tax Fraud

The federal government has filed a six-count criminal charge against oil and gas services company Saipem Contracting Nigeria Limited and two of its senior directors over alleged tax fraud involving N66.4 billion and $938,080.

The case, filed before Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court in Lagos, is marked FHC/L/118c/2026 and was brought by the Nigerian Revenue Service (NRS) following an investigation into the company’s tax compliance from 2014 to 2019.

The defendants include Saipem Contracting Nigeria Limited, Michele Poggi, and Giani Di Petro, who are accused of failing to deduct and remit several statutory taxes due to the federal government.

Prosecutor Moses Ideho told the court that the alleged offences involve non-remittance of Companies Income Tax, Tertiary Education Tax, Capital Gains Tax, Withholding Tax, Value Added Tax, Stamp Duties, and the Nigeria Police Trust Fund levy.

He said the charges violate sections 40 and 42(1) of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (Establishment) Act 2007 (as amended), as well as provisions of the Companies Income Tax Act.

At the hearing on Friday, the defendants were not present in court but were represented by their counsel, B. A. Sodipo (SAN), who informed the court that a Notice of Preliminary Objection had been filed challenging the charge.

The prosecution counsel, however, requested additional time to respond, having just been served with the application.

Justice Osiagor subsequently adjourned the matter to June 29 for hearing of the preliminary objection.

One of the counts reads, “That you, Saipem Contracting Nigeria Limited, Michele Poggi and Giani Di Petro, between the years of assessment 2014 to 2019, within Nigeria and within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, whilst carrying out taxable business and providing taxable services, did fail to deduct and remit taxes due to the Federal Republic of Nigeria… thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 40 of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (Establishment) Act 2007 (as amended).”