Exclusive: DBIR slams ‘Non Compliance Notice’ on Bridgeview Hotel, Aganbi’s Akogate

A major tax controversy is brewing in Warri, Delta State, following the slamming of a ‘Non Compliance Notice’ on Bridgeview Hotel and Felix Aganbi’s Akogate Group in the Ugbuwangue Area of Warri by Officials of Delta State Board of Internal Revenue, DBIR, Fresh Angle International can exclusively report.

The notice which was placed on the gates of both firms at about 12:30pm on Friday March 4 reads, “Non Compliance- Take notice that the Owners/Operators of this Company/Business premises have failed to comply with tax obligation under Personal Income Tax Act No. 104 of 1993 as amended by the Personal Income Tax (amended) Act 2011.

Any officer or agent of the Company/Business involved in the contravention is liable for non-compliance and punishable under relevant provisions of Personal Income Tax Act”.

It warned, “this notice must not be removed by any person without the prior authority of the Executive Chairman, Delta State Board of Internal Revenue”, with the proviso, “kindly contact Office of the Executive Chairman, headquarters, Revenue Building, 105, Airport Road, Warri, Delta State, 09053964100, 09053964107, 09053964114 By Order of the Executive Chairman, Delta State Board of Internal Revenue”.

Manager of Bridgeview Hotel, Warri, Mr. Martin Okuse while responding to Fresh Angle International in an exclusive chat, expressed shock at the notice, saying his company received no prior communication from DBIR except from the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, which was already being addressed.

According to him, the hotel only started operations January 2016 and wondered the rationale behind the DBIR Non- Compliance Notice.

Officials of Akogate Group, makers of ‘Akogate Still Water’ who were at the company premises told Our Correspondent that they were working on responding to the notice, claiming the company has relocated to Benin City, Edo State.

Non-Compliance Notice at the gate of Akogate Group

An Aide to Chairman of DBIR who spoke on condition of anonymity, stated that notice was published on Vanguard, Guardian and Pointer Newspapers, saying the business owners can’t claim ignorance of prior notification.

The Aide asked Our Correspondent to sought further clarification on the phone numbers on the No-Compliance Notice, but efforts to call the lines were unsuccessful as they did not connect.

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