Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has shaken off allegations of stalking former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar over his perceived 2019 Presidential ambition, describing as mere rumour the so-called sealing of Integrated Logistic Limited (Intels) premises by its enforcement team.
According to the FIRS, Intels is only advised to fulfill its mandatory tax obligations by remitting long overdue taxes to Federal Government coffers.
Reacting to report that the Onne headquarters of Intels, an oil services company with links to Atiku Abubakar in Rivers State, has been shut down, the FIRS described the information as untrue and manipulative.
Head, Communications and Servicom Department of FIRS, Wahab Gbadamosi said the Service officials only pasted a notice of non-compliance sticker at Intels facility in Onne.
He said the development was quite normal as many defaulting companies across the country have such stickers to remind them of their tax status and the need to discharge their tax obligations to government.
Reports quoted the FIRS Spokesman as saying, “It does not in any way halt or affect the company’s (Intels) operations. It’s not even a punitive move. It’s like a reminder to fulfill their obligations, especially on the Company’s Income Tax (CIT) and Value Added Tax (VAT) as enshrined in their respective Acts.”
Gbadamosi said the exercise is part of FIRS routine compliance procedures and blamed the current political atmosphere in the country for the wrong meanings being espoused by people.
According to him, “It’s nothing other than our compliance procedure”, and FIRS will not be blackmailed to shirk its statutory responsibilities.
