BIRS seals Zenith Bank, Fidelity, others in Makurdi, Benue (PHOTOS)

It was half day at work yesterday, 25th May, 2017 for staff of Zenith, Fidelity, Skye and Unity Banks in all the branches within Makurdi metropolis, Benue State as the Executive Chairman of the State Internal Revenue Service Mrs. Mimi Adzape-Orubibi led an Enforcement team to distrain by sealing the premises of the aforementioned banks for neglect, failure or refusal to pay their assessed PAYE Taxes/Liabilities.

According to Mrs. Orubibi, the Taxes/Liabilities (Best of Judgement Assessment) for Skye Bank Plc Makurdi amount to One Billion Naira (N1, 000,000,000.00) only for the 2009 to 2014 Tax years. That of Unity Bank stood at One Hundred and Five Million, Four Hundred and Fourteen Thousand and Forty Four Naira, Thirty Kobo (N105,414,544.37) Only for the 2011 to 2015 Tax years.

Fidelity Bank on the other hand owes One Hundred and Thirteen Million Nine Hundred and Fifty Nine Thousand One Hundred and Fourteen Naira Thirty Three Kobo (N113,959,114.33) only for the 2009 to 2014 Tax years. After reconciliation, Zenith Bank has been found to be indebted to the sum of Two Hundred and Thirteen Million Nine Hundred and Fifty Seven Thousand Three Hundred and Thirty Eight Naira Ninety Four Kobo (213,957,338.94) only.

Speaking after the exercise, the Executive Chairman said Fidelity, Skye and Unity Banks were given Best of Judgement Assessment because they refused to cooperate with BIRS for a successful Audit Investigation. Zenith Bank on the other hand, submitted all the documents requested by the board but refused to pay after the audit exercise within the 7 days provided by Law.

Some Customers who spoke to Newsmen during the exercise expressed satisfaction with the closure of default banks, lamenting how banks deduct their monies at will in the name of Withholding Tax, Vat, Commission and so on without remitting to appropriate authorities.

Meanwhile, most of the Bank Managers appealed to the Management of BIRS to give them more time to communicate with their respective Head Quarters for necessary action but their request was turned down, on the grounds that they had more than enough time to do the needful.

 Source: Terna Francis
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