From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
Amidst the ongoing faceoff between some Telecommunications companies and the kogi state government, , Kogi state Internal Revenue Service KGIRS has condemn in strong term the ongoing campaign of Calumny against the organisation by the Globacom tax defaulter.
The Executive Chairman, Kogi Internal Revenue Service, Sule Salihu Enehe while addressing a Press Conference in Lokoja on Wednesday, denied the accusations that the agency was collecting illegal taxes.
He said the KGIRS has tremendous respect for the rule of law and will not take any action that infringes on the rights of individuals and corporate organisations pointing out that the Indigenous Telecom giant, Globacom is a serial tax defaulter as they have not fufilled their tax obligation since 2017.
He said that Glo was the only Telecom company who had vehemently refused to fulfill its tax obligation including failure to get approval for planting their masts in the state.
“Glo is a notorious and serial tax defaulter who take pride in refusing to fulfill their tax obligation,despite repeated plea and Communications asking them to pay up”
“Instead of the company to pay up, they were using various Federal government agencies to blackmail both the state government and KGIRS” the Chairman noted.”
Also speaking at the briefing,the Director, Legal services to the KGIRS, Saidu Okino said that the current situation leading to the ceiling off the premises housing Glo was carried out after series of correspondents with the organisations and after obtaining court judgement permitting it to carry out the operation.
He stressed that the agency would maintains cordial relationship with other Organisations to complement effort of state government in turning the state into investment destination.
While commending the MTN for the prompt payment of their tax liabilities, urged corporate Organisations operating in the state to reciprocate the efforts of the Government in creating enabling environment for their businesses by regular offsetting their tax liabilities.
It would be recalled that kogi state government has last week shut down Glo and airtel over non payment of their tax responsibilities.
