FIRS Shuts More Tax-owing Firms In Umuahia

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), on Friday, sealed off Mentors & Partners Limited in Umuahia, Abia State, over tax liabilities of N308.9million.

The sealing off of the company was a continuation of the enforcement exercise, which began on Wednesday. The FIRS team, led by Mrs. Ruth Mandeun, sealed over 13 tax-owing firms across the state.

Among those affected are Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Guest House and the university’s petrol station, which have joint tax liabilities of N3.5million. Also affected were De-Latino Concert Limited and Hotel Macbeck Limited, owing N6.7million and N273,313 respectively.

Others are Ohama Suites Ltd (N1.1million), Onyems Classic Pharmacy (N400,000), Otubraco Nigeria Limited (N540,437) and Ziggi Services Limited (N250,000) value added tax and income tax for 2016.

Enforcement team leader, Mrs. Mandeun warned sealed tax-defaulting companies against reopening them without clearing their liabilities and getting approval from the agency, as that would constitute a breach of the law.

She described the three-day operation as very successful, saying some of the companies sealed have started paying.