Comptroller of immigration, in an interview confirmed that the revenue collected from the CERPAC is shared and distributed by the defendants as follows:
a. 5% to the minister of Interior
b. 7% to the Comptroller of Immigration
c. 33% to the Federal Government
d. 55% to Continental Transfer Technique
Falana contended that Continental Transfer Technique company is not an official of the Federal Government but a private company engaged solely by Minister of interior to usurp and perform the statutory duties of the Comptroller of Immigration in fixing the CERPAC fees paid by all expatriates in Nigeria.
The Government did not propose the increment of the CERPAC from $1000 to $2000 payable by every expatriate in the appropriation Bill 2018 which was duly passed by National Assembly and signed into law by the President.
The defendants have prevented all expatriates in Nigeria from paying the CERPAC into the Federation account at the Central Bank of Nigeria contrary to the Treasury Single account policy of the Federal Government.
The number of expatriate working in Nigeria is in the region of 200,000 while the revenue being collected from them is not less than $400 miilon per annum.
Out of the said sum of $400 million only 33%is allocated to the Federal Government while the remaining 67% of the revenue is shared by the defendants.
The 36 states Government, the Federal Capital Territory and the 774 local Governments are not allowed to share in the revenue of about $400 million.
Consequently, Falana asked the court to restrain the defendants and their agents from the fixing, collection and distribution of CERPAC paid by every expatriate in Nigeria in any manner whatsoever.
He also prayed the court to also direct the defendants to account, refund and remit into the Federation account all CERPAC collected since 2014
However, in a combined counter affidavit filed before the court by the Minister of interior and comptroller of immigration, they contended that, Federal Government approved Continental Transfer Technique company to produce CERPAC cards, neither to fix fees nor collect same in line with global practice.
They argued that the minister is empowered by law to determine from time to time such fees as regards expatriate and immigrants who wish to work in Nigeria.
That the expatriate pay to the commercial banks who in turn remits into Treasury Single Account the Federal Government’s share in line with the provisions of the Agreement.
After reviewing the submission of the two parties, Judge Aikawa in his judgement, upheld the submission of Falana.
