Newsfront Online …Telling the Public as it is
…Issues Warning Notice to Amity Hotel, Macaire Resort, Others
By Ekemini Simon
The Akwa Ibom State Internal Revenue Service, AKIRS has sealed off Tilapia island, a popular recreational centre in Abak Local Government Area over unpaid withholding tax allegedly running into millions of naira.
The premises was sealed off today, Tuesday after the State government Agency had acquired an exparte order tagged ” Notice of distrain ” from the Akwa Ibom State High Court, Abak Division ordering that access to the premises and its facilities be restricted. Jamiquee Dinner, a hospitality outfit in Abak did not also escape being sealed off by the enforcement team of the AKIRS.
The Akwa Ibom State Internal Revenue Service, AKIRS further issued Notice of Default and Non Compliance to Amity Hotel and Rosmohr Hotel which both hospitality outfits operate in Ewet Housing, Uyo. Gim Global Limited located at new timber market road, Mbiaobong, Uyo, Macaire Resort, Executive Guest House, and Monika Kindergarten and Elementary school all in Ikot Ekpene had their share of the Notice of Default and Non Compliance.
The Notice 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.”
The Notice adds that the organisations served have seven days to comply else the Board will take legal actions at the expiration of the seven days notice. According to the Executive Director, Enforcement and Recovery, AKIRS, Mr Leo Umanah, AKIRS had written to the organizations on several occasions inviting them for reconciliation and negotiations. He pointed out that since they have refuse to reply or avail themselves for reconciliation and negotiations over a 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 for the two businesses which have been served notice of distrain, under the law, they have 14 days to negotiate with AKIRS 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.” Mr. Umanah offered insight to the fact that already, 273 business outfits are withholding State government taxes in sum running into billions of naira. He insisted that in the ongoing enforcement drive of AKIRS, they were poised on recovering State government revenue thus help the state government realize its completion agenda.
