By Dipo Olowookere
No fewer than 13 companies in Abia State have been shut down by officials of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) for allegedly failing to pay their taxes.
Part of the affected companies were Ohama Suites Ltd, owing N1,153,500; Onyems Classic Pharmacy, N400,000; Otubraco Nig. Ltd, N540,437; and Ziggi Services Ltd, which owes N250,000 VAT and income tax for 2016.
Others firms sealed were Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Guest House, and the university’s petrol station for owing N3,500,000 income and value added tax from 2013 to 2016; De-Latino Concert Ltd, N6,677,221; and Hotel Macbeck Ltd, N273,313.
On Wednesday, an enforcement team, armed with court warrants against defaulting institutions, stormed premises of the firms in Umuahia, the state capital. The team was led by Ruth Mandeun.
She told newsmen after the exercise that the FIRS Executive Chairman, Mr Tunde Fowler, was ready to collect every kobo owed FIRS by tax defaulters in Abia State and other places.
She urged members of the public and business owners to always pay their taxes because that is where government get money to provide amenities to the people.
