Babatunde Fowler

The enforcement unit of the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS), on Friday continued its closure of big companies in Lagos and across the country for non-payment of a variety of taxes. In Lagos, FIRS officials shut down the premises of RT Briscoe Nigeria PLC, Sinopec Nigeria, an oil and exploration company in Ikoyi, over failure to remit their taxes.

The Lagos enforcement team, led by Emeka Obiagwu, sealed up Briscoe Motors located on Fatai Atere Way, Mushin, over the company’s failure to remit N1.9 billion in taxes. The team ordered the staff out of their offices and locked up the building.

A top management staff of the company made efforts to pacify FIRS officials, saying the company had N150million to the FIRS. Obiagwu, however maintained that until the company remits a minimum of 50% of the total amount owed in taxes, its premises will remain shut.

“My mandate is to get at least 50% percent of the total amount owed by the company, anything less than that will not be acceptable,” ‎Obiagwu said.
At Sinopec Nigeria, the company which owes $15million, the enforcement team had no trouble shutting down the office premises and staff quarters

Another company visited by the enforcement team, Hammoud and Saidi International, is located at Wuse Zone 5 Area of Abuja.

The company is owing N5.9 million tax liability for the 2012. Only one official of the company who simply identified himself as Tony was available to at the time of the enforcement’s team’s arrival.

He could not present any evidence of payment to the enforcement team. Consequently, the office of the company was shut. Also on Friday, the FIRS team in Aba, Abia State, shut down the premises of Dan Dollars Limited and D.E Okafor and Sons Limited for non-remittance of taxes.

It will be recalled that the FIRS team, on Thursday, shut the Imo Transport Company and Hotels & Tours Ltd in Owerri. Imo State.