Two state High Courts in Abia State, sitting separately in Umuahia, have ordered that the business premises of five companies be sealed indefinitely.

Justices Onuoha Ogwe and Kevin Wosu, ordered that the firms be sealed for failing to remit N19 million taxes to government.Among them are three hotels: De Latinos, Eastern Comforts and Gardens Resort in Umuahia, and Diannex Hotels in Aba. Others are Royal Exchange Assurance Nigeria Ltd and Rainbow Printing Press Company in Aba.

The courts had, following the suits filed by Abia State Internal Revenue Service, indicted them for not remit the outstanding PAYE Taxes of their employees in the state.They were also accused of withholding taxes deducted from their individual suppliers of goods and services, covering the period stated in the courts’ order.

A breakdown of the amount shows that Eastern Comfort Hotels did not remit N1, 314,098.4 which were PAYE arrears of four years, from 2008 to 2015, while De Latinos had an outstanding N7, 825,022.67 being five years arrears.

Diannex Hotels was involved in N7, 356,318.44, being arrears for four years.
Others were, Rainbow Printing Press Co N985, 246.00 with three years arrears, and Royal Exchange Assurance, which had outstanding three years arrears of N 1, 240, 054.69.

In the cases of Rainbow Printing Press Co and Royal Exchange Assurance, the court presided over by Justice Ogwe, now the state Chief Judge, awarded the Revenue Service N50, 000.00 costs.Executive Chairman of the state Inland Revenue Service, Mr. Udochukwu Ogbonna, said the premises of other tax defaulters would be sealed, as soon as the court orders.

•Sourced from The Guardian report

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