Barely two days after 13 banks were shut down in Oyo State, the State Government has shut down the business premises of Obasanjo Farms located in Oluyole Industrial Estate, Ibadan.
Other businesses shut down include Black Horse, Heinemann Educational Books, Lister Flour Mills, Evans Brother, Butterfield bakery, Chicken Republic, MRS oil and Rasmed Publicity.
It was gathered that the companies were shut over their default in the payment of taxes to the State Government.
The Chairman of the Board of Internal Revenue, Bicci Alli, why stating why the state government shut down the companies, said the order became necessary after the failure of the companies to comply with the state tax laws’ directives despite being served reminders on several occasions.
“We went to restrain some corporate organisations that failed to pay what is due to the Oyo State government after giving due notices, demand notices and even public notices to that effect and they failed to pay.
“So we went to those places to stop them from having access to their premises until they comply with the directive and do the right thing,” Alli added.
Recall that the state government had sealed Diamond, Stanbic IBTC, Skye, FCMB, Heritage, First Bank, Ecobank, Unity Bank, UBA, Keystone, Union bank among others.
It was gathered that the banks were sealed by officers of Oyo State board of internal revenue, under the task force team tagged Oyo State Inter ministerial Enforcement Unit for their failure to pay Environmental Developmental Levy (EDI) levy in the state.
In recent times, the Nigerian government at large has been raising concern over tax default. More so, warning defaulters of expected sanctions.
Recall that the Federal Government had vowed to sell the properties of tax evaders in the country. This was disclosed by the Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Tunde Fowler.
Fowler said the government is not only willing to sell properties built and developed in corporate names across the country on which taxes were not being paid, but will freeze thousands of bank accounts.
We thank God that many things are been revealed to the common man in this country.