joshua
_By Muhammad M. Idris_
Kogi State Internal Revenue Service on Wednesday, December 2, 2020, sealed the facilities of Dangote for giving a cover to two foreign companies operating under the Dangote Cement Factory in Obajana over their refusal to pay taxes worth over Two Billion Naira to the Kogi State Government.
The Head of Enforcement Directorate of the Revenue Service, Mr. Suleiman Bajehson, who led the team to seal the facilities of the companies at the premises of Dangote Cement factory, Obajana, lamented that besides the fact that the two companies: Ayoki Fabricon Limited and Sinoma (O&M) Investment Limited were owned by foreigners, they have also refused to meet their tax obligations that accumulated to N2, 634, 866, 662 : 07k.
Giving the breakdown of the taxes owed by the two companies, Bajehson revealed that Ayoki Fabricon Limited refused to liquidate its tax liabilities running into N1, 383, 826, 187: 97K which comprised of unremitted PAYE and Development Levy from 2010 to 2019.
He added that Sinoma (O&M) Investment Limited also refused to pay the State Government the sum of N1, 251, 040, 474 : 10K as unremitted PAYE and Development Levy covering 2013 to 2019.
According to him, “The Service has written several letters to the management of the companies to persuade them to fulfill their tax obligations but they rather responded with a sheer disinterest.
“The sealing of the sites and properties is at the instance of a High Court Order sitting in Lokoja, Kogi State, and until they pay these tax liabilities, we will not reverse the action”.
Meanwhile, the Staff of the revenue service who partook in the enforcement were attacked by the staff of the companies alongside with the hoodlums and truck drivers allegedly instructed by one of the Chief Security Officers of the companies who claimed to be a retired colonel of the Nigerian Military.
It, however, took the quick response and intervention of the Policemen who whisked the KGIRS enforcement team away to a safe environment before evacuating them to the police station at Obajana.
As at 8:30pm, the Staffers of the KGIRS were still lodged at the police station awaiting the arrival of more officers to be deployed and expected to lead the staff of the Service to Lokoja, the State Capital.
See below the pictures of the Service damage vehicles.
