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The Enugu State Government has listed no fewer than 3,000 properties across the state to be sealed off for failure to pay tax, Chairman of State Internal Revenue Services (SIRS), Mr Emeka Odo, said today 6 December 2019.

The exercise began at dawn this morning and by the end of the day, 37 institutions were sealed off.

Mr. Odo, who briefed journalists at the end of the exercise, said no organisation evading tax will be spared, including hospitality industries, financial institutions and schools.

Enugu State Government, he said, is being owed over N2.5million in unpaid taxes by various organisations in the State.

“This exercise, which is still ongoing involves the distrainment of a number of commercial establishments, banks and some private institutions.

Mr. Odo addresing the press after the distraining exercise Day 1

“They have refused to remit to the state government taxes they deducted from clients, staffers and others.

“This exercise is pursuant to an ex-parte order from the High Court of Enugu State.

“It is expected that over 3000 properties will be affected by the work of the receiver managers,” he said.

However, news agency reports indicated that the exercise was not altogether seamless on the first day, as a couple of organisations which claim to have paid their taxes were equally sealed off.

A couple of business owners among the sealed properties faulted the process and claimed that they were not owing.

One of them, the chair of Utopia Suites and Apartments, Independence Layout, Mr Anthony Ifechukwu, said that the enforcement would kill the businesses, citing the wrongful closure of his own company.

According to him, he had fulfilled his financial obligations to the state government and there was no need to seal his business premises.

Author

  • Ogbuagu Bob Anikwe, a veteran journalist and message development specialist, is now a community journalism advocate and publisher of Enugu Metro. Contact him on any of the channels below.

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