The
Ondo State Board of Internal Revenue monday sealed off offices of Zenith Bank
Plc in Akure and Ondo Town over failure of the bank to remit about N100 million
tax due to the state government.
The
sealing of the bank’s premises was carried out by the board officials led by
the Director, Management Services, Legal and Enforcement Department, Mr.
Emmanuel Akinmutimi, who was accompanied by security personnel.
However,
when contacted, a source at bank who pleaded to remain anonymous said the
matter would be resolved amicably.
The
officials of the state agency were said to have stormed the banks premises as
early as
6.30am to restrain the bank workers who had earlier reported for duty
before gates and entrances leading to the banks were locked.
THISDAY
gathered that the Court order, which was given to the workers to sign, was
rejected prompting the board officials to paste it on the bank’s gates with the
inscription ‘SEALED By Court Order Ondo State Board of Internal Revenue.’
Speaking
on the development, Akinmutimi said: “Zenith Bank is one of our customers like
all other financial institutions. Record however shows that over the years, the
bank has not been remitting tax deductions to the Board of Internal Revenue.
"We
opened correspondence with them but they did not respond. During our last
visit, we gave them a notice of non-compliance, telling them that we intended
to approach a court of competent jurisdiction to obtain order of restriction
sealing off the bank.
“They
did not oblige us. There and then we approached a court for an ex-parte motion
asking us to seal-off the place for non-remittance of several millions of
naira, not even ten or twenty millions to the state.”
He
added: "The federal government is encouraging state governments to look
inward for revenue generation to develop their states now that revenue coming
from Federation Account is nose diving by virtue of dwindling oil fortunes and
Zenith Bank is owing over N100 million naira, which is a huge sum of money.
"There
is a lot the government can do with such amount of money.”
Thisday
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