Benue seals lawmaker’s microfinance bank over ‘nonpayment’ of registration fees

The Benue state government has sealed City Bay Park and a microfinance bank for non-payment of registration fees.

Asema Achado, a house of representative member and owner of the park, confirmed the development during a press briefing on Thursday in Makurdi, according to NAN.

The lawmaker said the leisure park and event centre was sealed on December 23 by government officials alongside his microfinance bank, Benysta Microfinance Bank.

“On December 23, officials from BIRS and the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment, alongside law enforcement agents, forcibly entered and sealed the premises of City Bay Park and Benysta Microfinance Bank,” Achado said.

“They presented demand notices dated December 12 and 13, 2024, regarding business premises registration fees.

“Despite City Bay Park’s status as a government property, which arguably exempts it from such fees, the management of the park swiftly paid N20,000 for registration and N219,000 as default charges to avoid conflict.

“These payments were made on the 23rd of December, 2024, and receipts of these payments were duly issued by BIRS, which copies are available for reference.

“Shockingly, after an additional N20,000 was demanded and paid to unseal City Bay Park, a more aggressive enforcement team arrived and resealed both premises.”

The lawmaker also said the second operation was marked by excessive force and harassment, including the use of tear gas, which caused distress among customers, including children and the elderly.

He added that the “arbitrary and heavy-handed” sealing of the business premises by the state government is executed without authorisation from any competent court of law empowered to issue such an order.

On their part, the BIRS said the exercise was carried out by the ministry of industry, trade, and investment.

Jacob Suswam, spokesman of the service, said the BIRS was only involved in the process as a revenue-collecting agency.

“This question should be addressed to the appropriate ministry that carried out the exercise. BIRS only came into the picture as a collection agency,”  Suswam said.

He also said the demand notice was served by the aforementioned ministry, which also conducted the assessment and executed the enforcement.