Section 299: False statements and returns.

1 A person who-
a for the purpose of obtaining any deduction, refund, rebate, reduction or repayment in respect of hydrocarbon tax for himself or for any other person or who in any return, account, particulars or statement made or furnished with reference to tax, knowingly makes any false statement or false representation or forges or fraudulently alters or uses or fraudulently lends or allows to be used by any other person any receipt or token as evidence for payment of the tax under this Act; or
b aids, abets, assists, counsels, incites or induces any other person
(i) to make or deliver any false return or statement under this Act,
(ii) to keep or prepare any false accounts or particulars affecting tax, or
(iii) unlawfully refuses or neglects to pay tax,
commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of N 15,000,000 or 1% of the amount of tax for which the person assessable is liable under this Act for the accounting period in respect of or during which the offence was committed, or to imprisonment for six months or to both the fine and imprisonment and is also liable for the appropriate hydrocarbon tax which would have been assessed and charged.


2 Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1), any person who does any of the acts or makes the omissions contained in subsection (1), may be liable to an administrative penalty of N15,000,000 or 1% of the amount of hydrocarbon tax for which the person assessable is liable under this Act for the accounting period in respect of or during which the act or omission occurred and shall still be liable for appropriate tax which would have been assessed and charged.