FIRS: Jimoh Ibrahim’s firms owe N575m in taxes

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) says Nicon Luxury Hotel, owned by Jimoh Ibrahim, a Nigerian businessman, is currently defaulting in unpaid tax liabilities, to the tune of N392,623,765.

The agency also said Nicon Insurance has N182,685, 036 million in unremitted withholding tax and (Value Added Tax) VAT from 2008 to 2012.

In a statement released on Thursday, FIRS said it sealed companies in Lagos, Abuja, Owerri and Kaduna in continuation of its efforts to arrest the growing incidence of non-remittance.

In Lagos, the FIRS sealed the premises of Swift Networks, an internet provider, and Pan Ocean Oil Corporation Nigeria Limited, for failing to remit huge amounts in VAT.

“Swift Networks, which has its office on 31, Saka Tinubu Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, failed to remit N702 million to the government. It’s office was sealed by FIRS officials  led by the Director of Enforcement, Emeka, Obiagwu,” FIRS said.

FIRS said several notices have been served on  the companies and several moves were also made to compel the companies to remit their taxes, but most of these companies turn deaf ears.

“At the office of Pan Ocean Oil Corporation, the enforcement recorded some drama, with the company’s security men attempting to prevent FIRS officials from carrying out their duty,” it added.

“It took the intervention of some members of the company to restrain the security men for the enforcement to take place.”

Efforts to get FIRS officials to give another period of grace were futile. The management of the firm was told to send representatives to the FIRS office to discuss how to remit the $29.2 million owed in VAT.

At Century Energy Services Limited, members of staff were told to vacate their offices and the  building was sealed up.

In Kaduna, FIRS officials sealed the office of System Properties Development Company limited (SPDC) located at Shehu Crescent in Kaduna North Local Government Area.

The company has failed to remit  over N20 million. The same fate befell Mutunci Company Nigeria Limited located at plot 5 Kudenda Industrial Layout Kaduna. The company failed to remit over N42 million.

The owner of the company, an Indian whose name was simply given as “Mr Vora”, insisted that he was up to date in the payment of all his taxes and went ahead to show his 2016 VAT clearance certificate due to expire in December.

His explanation, however, was deemed unsatisfactory, as he was told by the enforcement team that there are discrepancies between the expected payment and the actual payment of over N 42 million.

Led by Ruth Mandeun, the enforcement team of FIRS gave the management of Jimoh Ibrahim’s companies over one hour to pay up before executing the distrain warrant on them.

Members of People Democratic Party (PDP) holding a stake holders’ meeting in one of the halls in the hotels were forced to park their vehicles outside the premises as the enforcement team locked the gates while workers of the hotel instantly closed for the day.

Companies were similarly sealed in Owerri.