By Dipo Olowookere
A Chinese oil firm, Hilong Oil Services and Engineering Company Limited, has been sealed by the Bayelsa Board of Internal Revenue (BIR) over its alleged failure to pay N109.5 million as tax to the state government.
Director of Compliance at BIR, Mr Robert Lokoson, who led an enforcement team to seal the company accompanied by armed security operatives, explained that the action was in line with an ex parte order granted by the High Court of Bayelsa State, as well as in pursuant of Section 104 of the Personal Income Tax (Amendment) Law 2011.
After the operation, which precisely took place at Elebele in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa, Mr Lokoson stated that the debt had been owed since 2013, and that several letters were written to the firm to pay up.
The tax officer said when no response came from them, the court was approached to get the necessary power to seal off the company.
However, the Chinese company declined to deny or refute this claim. An official of the coy, who had earlier allowed the enforcement team into the premises, claimed he had no permission to speak on the matter.
Mr Lokoson said his agency decided to lock the company because of the state government’s determination to recover the money, which he said was need to fund projects in the oil producing state.
“If a company owes this much, we have to do everything possible to recover the money. It will go for one project or the other.
“This action will send a strong message to other companies that we are not joking. Companies have been taking us for granted in this state.
“Now, we want to enforce the law to the letter so that those other companies that are not complying will see reasons to comply,” he said.
