THE Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) to strengthen the Commission’s ability to better tackle tax-related offences.

According to ICPC spokesperson, Rasheedat Okoduwa, the MoU was signed by the Acting Chairman of ICPC, Musa Abubakar, and the CITN President, Cyril Ede, at a brief ceremony which took place at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

Speaking during the event, Abubakar said that tax evasion was an offence punishable under the ICPC Act, and that training in areas of taxation would boost the performance of operatives investigating tax and non-tax related matters.

He expressed optimism that having investigators and prosecutors of the Commission well-grounded in specialized areas will make the prosecution of offenders easier.

Also speaking at the event, the CITN President, explained that part of the institute’s objectives was to ensure that corruption did not have a place in tax administration.

He stressed that law enforcement agents need to have the requisite knowledge, and undergo continuous training and capacity development programmes in order to be able to confront the challenges of tax evasion.

Under the MOU, the CITN commits to training ICPC operatives into experts in the area of taxation, and equipping them with the required knowledge needed to fight corruption in the tax sector.

In a related development, the British High Commission in Nigeria has described the ICPC as “a partner of choice to the British government”.

The Regional Manager, Africa for Immigration Enforcement, British High Commission, B. Crosby, gave the commendation when during a visit to the commission’s headquarters in the company of the Director of Immigration Intelligence, United Kingdom, David Pennant.

Crosby expressed his appreciation to the ICPC for what he described as the commission’s invaluable support to the British government, and for the effort at curbing corruption in Nigeria and tackling illegal migration.