The federal government has sued Saipem Contracting Nigeria Limited before the Federal High Court in Lagos over $57,753,337.64, €14,494,977.68 in unpaid taxes.
The two amended charges were filed by a team of ten legal officers from the Litigation & Prosecution Department of Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), located at 20 Sokode Crescent, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja.
In the first amended charge, a seven-count suit marked FHC/L/907C/24, it was alleged that: “Saipem Contracting Nigeria Limited, sometime between 2010 and 2014, while rendering taxable services in the course of business, was obligated to pay Company Income Tax in the sum of $42,068,874.35 but failed to file accurate and complete Companies Income Tax Returns in the prescribed form and manner for the assessment years 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014, in the said sum of $42,068,874.35. In doing so, it committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 55 of the Companies Income Tax Act (as amended).”
It was also alleged that: “Saipem Contracting Nigeria Limited, sometime between 2010 and 2023, while providing taxable services as part of its regular business operations under SAIPEM SA, failed to issue tax invoices for services rendered in 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013 amounting to $34,656,833. This constitutes an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 29 of the Value Added Tax Act of 1993 (as amended).”
In the second amended charge, a ten-count suit marked FHC/L/908C/24, it was further alleged that: “Saipem Contracting Nigeria Limited, between 2010 and 2014, while carrying out taxable services, was obligated to pay Companies Income Tax in the sum of $15,684,463.29 and €14,494,977.68, but failed to file accurate and complete returns in the prescribed form and manner for the years 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 55 of the Companies Income Tax Act (as amended).”
Furthermore, it was alleged that: “The company unlawfully and willfully failed to file its true and correct returns, refused, neglected, and failed to appear before the Tax Office for the purpose of examination of returns, and failed to produce requested information to FIRS officers regarding its income tax returns.”
The company was also accused of: “Failing to register with the Federal Inland Revenue Service for the purpose of paying the relevant tax administered by the Service.”
The court has scheduled October 6, 2025, for the commencement of trial.