Akwa Ibom goes tough on tax defaulters, pickets GTB branches in Uyo

Akwa Ibom government has moved to improve its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) by going tough on tax defaulters as it pickets the Guarantee Trust Bank over unpaid taxes running into N184 million.

The two branches operating in the State; Udo Udoma and Abak road branches were sealed off after the State government Agency had acquired an exparte order tagged ” Notice of Distrain ” from the Akwa Ibom State High Court, Uyo Division ordering that access to the premises and its facilities be restricted.

It could be recalled that the two branches of GTBank were given warning notice on February 4, 2020. According to State internal revenue service, the bank has failed to comply with the warning 10 months after.

It was gathered that the Bank had taken the state internal revenue service was dragged to court in Uyo, Port Harcourt and Benin City over the tax remittance. The cases were struck out in favour of state government.

The Notice of Distrain reads that the organizations served ” have not been remitting the actual tax deductible from its employees’ salaries and other relevant taxes due to the State; hence failed to comply with the provisions of relevant tax laws.”

Read also: FIRS Boss cautions tax defaulters on impending penalty

According to the Executive Director, Enforcement and Recovery, of the revenue agency, Leo Umanah, the Board had exhausted reconciliation and negotiation opportunities with the organization.

He pointed out that since they have refused to remit taxes accruing to the State despite the long period of time given them, AKIRS is left with no choice but get exparte order in order to recover State Government revenue.

The Enforcement and Recovery Director noted that the bank was served the Notice of Distrain, under the law, adding that they had14 days to negotiate with the state government and vacate the order.

He added ” If after 14 days, they do not comply, we have the mandate of the court to sell the property and recover the tax owed the State.”

Umanah offered insight to the fact that already, many business outfit are withholding State government taxes in sum running into billions of naira.

He insisted that in the ongoing enforcement drive is poised on recovering State government revenue thus help the state government realize its completion agenda.