Revenue board seals up Mega Hilton, Joe Marine

In pursuance of its declaration to clamp down on tax defaulters, the Delta State Board of Internal Revenue, DBIR, have sealed up the premises of Mega Hilton Hotel Limited, Ekpan as well as Joe Marine Institute of Nautical Studies and Research for not meeting up with their tax liabilities tothe Delta State government.

The board also sealed up two car sales outlet, Joelisa Motors and Fide Global for the same offence with a stern warning to companies and organizations which have outstanding liabilities with the Delta State government to pay up or risk the sledge hammer of DBIR.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Mega Hilton Hotel Limited is liable to the tune of N19.5million, while Joe Marine Institute of Nautical and Research is liable to the tune of N4.5million. Joelisa Motors will have to cough out the sum of N1million, while its neighbor, Fide Global will have to clear its N5million liabilities before their premises will be open for operation.

Parts of the enrolment of judgment against Mega Hilton Hotel limited from High Court of Justice, Warri and made available to newsmen reads, “Pursuant to the order 11 rule 5 [2] of High court (civil procedure) Ruler2009,the Defendant is accordingly adjudged to pay to the claimant the sum of N19,556,204.29 being outstanding liabilities for PAYE, withholding taxes and development levy as stated in the demand notice with interest at the bank base lending rate of 20%from the date when the tax became payable until it is paid”.

The Manager of Mega Hilton was not on hand to comment on the matter but some staff who spoke to newsmen on condition of anonymity said they were not aware of the matter as they are not competent to comment.

Counsel to Joe Marine Institute of Nautical studies and Research, Barrister Patrick Tobuye who was called on phone when the team from DBIR arrived, confirmed that they are liable to the said claim .He however,said they will meet with DBIR to see how much it will avail them.

Legal aide to the Executive Chairman of Delta State Boardof Internal Revenue, Barrister Clark Ekpebe, said that the exercise is on–going, stressing that there is no sacred cow in the board’s determination toraise the internally generated revenue of the state government, just as he posited that the board will prosecute both small and big establishment that a reliable to the state government.

According to him, in their penchant of following due process, “the management of Mega Hilton was served court papers,intimating them of their liability to the Board of Internally Revenue, Delta state .The management did not deem it fit to come to court or brief alawyer to represent them. Thereafter the court adjourned for 30days to enable them enters appearance or file defense. If that thing [sea] is removed it amounts to contempt of court and anybody found in the premises will be arrested and sent to prison”. He added, “It is an on-going exercise of the Board of Internally Revenue to clamp down on tax defaulters. We had given leeway to come and settletheir tax liability, but they did not. So what we are doing is an ongoing exercise. Today it is the turn of Mega Hilton, tomorrow it will be elsewhere.He said “sometime ago the press asked why we are enforcing against small establishment but I told them that it is an on-going exercise as we are convicting and compiling.”

In the same vein, Media Assistant to Chairman of the board, Mr. Obah Sylva has advised the tax paying public to meet up with their civic responsibility to avoid unnecessary embarrassment. He made this known while addressing journalist in his office. According to Obah “we have quite alot of cases in court, once we secure judgment we will go for enforcement, but I always advice tax paying public to do the needful and avoid all this stress”.He however assured the public that they will be fair to all while dischargingtheir duties.

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