By AbdulRaheem Aodu,
Kaduna
Kaduna state Internal Revenue Service (KDRIS) is set to seal off the premises of Kaduna Electric and five other companies over their failure to pay N216 million outstanding tax having obtained a court order to that effect.
But Kaduna Electric has hit back urging the state government to pay the huge amount owed it, adding that the electricity distribution company had been paying back the bill and they were committed to fully offsetting the tax bill soon.
Speaking at the weekend, the Executive Chairman of KDIRS, Muktar Ahmed, explained that “Kaduna Electric Distribution Company premises, known as Electricity House, would be sealed-off for not settling outstanding Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax liability to the tune of N210.6 million.
Also, to be sealed is Rosehill Luxury Ltd known as Deluxe Suite at No 3, Ali Akilu Road, Kaduna for equally not settling N2,181,888.32 PAYE tax liability from 2011 to 2012.
“Another is Katsina Ventures Petroleum at Marabar Jos, Zaria Road Kaduna, belonging to one Alh. Nuhu Katsina, for not settling N905, 608.56 outstanding tax assessments from 2012 to 2015.
Also to be sealed is Value Oil Petroleum at Nnamdi Azikiwe Way, Kaduna, belonging to one Alh. Abdullahi Adams, for also not settling N905, 608.56 outstanding tax assessments ffrom the same period.
“Similarly, Mashasha Petroleum also at Nnamdi Azikiwe Way, Kaduna, belonging to one Alh. Mohammed Danlami, would equally be sealed, for not settling N905, 608.56 outstanding tax assessment from 2012 to 2015.
Another company belonging to one Alh. Abubakar Sidi, Sidi Global Petrol at Zaria, would also be sealed by the service for not settling N800,000 outstanding tax assessment for 2012 to 2015.”
“The Service has liaised with all relevant stakeholders to seal the premises of the affected companies by next week”, he said, adding that the state would no longer tolerate this negative culture on not paying tax”, the chairman said.
Reacting to the plan to seal its offices, Head, Corporate Communication
Kaduna Electric, Abdulazeez Abdullahi, expressed dismay at the amount of debt, saying that “the state revenue service was not entirely factual in its assertions regarding our company.
