Cross River govt seals

For evading tax payment from 2006 to 2012, the premises of the Television Authority ( NTA) Channel 9 Calabar was yesterday sealed by the Cross River Internal Revenue Service. The action was carried out by a team of IRS staff led by Mr Ata Emmanuel, who said they were acting on the directives of the Revenue Court’s judgement.

Ata, an assistant director in state’s IRS, said the court order NO. RCT/ MSC./6/2014, to seal the NTA premises, came from Cross River Chief Judge, Justice Okoi Itam.

The judge ruled that a warrant ought to be issued against the NTA Calabar’s goods, chattels, lands, premises or place, bonds and securities for non-payment of more than N42.5 million.

Ata said the amount represents outstanding tax liability payable by the respondent to the applicant under the PAYE deductions and development levy for the period of 2006-2011. Speaking on the development, the General Manager, NTA Calabar, Mr Gbolahan Somuyiwa, said the issue at stake had to do with tax liability, adding that the office is embarrassed by the action.

“I do not know why it came to a situation where 48 IRS personnel and eight armed policemen will shut down our operations. It amounts to bravado that was not necessary. They were trying to force their way into our cash office and offices; policemen cocked their guns threatening to shoot. It is not necessary and not good for the relationship between government agencies and the media. We do not carry arms”, he said.