The governments of Kogi, Kwara and Benue states have sued MTN, Dangote Flour Mills Plc and others to the tax appeal tribunal for Northcentral Zone over tax evasion.
Also sued before the tax court sitting in Jos, the Plateau State capital, include Fidelity Bank Plc and Obajana Agro Sack Limited.
While Dangote Flour Mills was sued by Kwara State government, MTN was sued by Benue State government. Fidelity Bank Plc and Obajana Agrosacks Limited were sued respectively by Kogi State government for defaulting in tax payments which runs to hundreds of millions of naira.
Mrs. Goodness Echekam was also dragged before the tax court by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS)
Chairman of the tax appeal tribunal Hon. Richard Bala who disclosed this at the inaugural sitting of the court yesterday in Jos said: “The Tribunal within its jurisdiction shall assess the collection and accounting of revenue accruable to the government of the federation.” He urged parties involved to cooperate for the success of the tribunal.
He said: “The Tribunal has commenced sitting in Jos, Plateau State and we are to oversee tax cases from five states including Kwara, Kogi, Benue, Nasarawa and Jos, Plateau as host for the zone.
“The Tax Appeal Tribunal is imbued with powers to adjudicate over disputes arising from “Companies Income Tax Act, CAP. 60 LFN 1990, Personal Income Tax Act No. 104, 1993; Petroleum Profit Tax Act CAP. 354 LFN 1990; Value Added Tax Act No.102,1993 and Capital Gains Tax Act CAP. 42 LFN 1990 as well as any other Laws that may be made from time to time by the National Assembly.”
Speaking during the inaugural ceremony, Plateau State government represented by the Chairman of the Plateau State Internal Revenue Service Board, Mr. Arlat Dashe said the tribunal is going to relieve the Board of all the pains it has been passing through in getting her income tax from Federal Government agencies such as Customs among others.
He maintained that the state government is going to take full advantage of the tax tribunal.
The Tax Controller FIRS Jos, Plateau State, Mr. Joel Emmanuel said the tribunal has been long awaited to address the lingering challenges encountered in the collections of tax which is always with less cost compared to going to the normal court.
