• Login
  • Register
Nairametrics
  • Home
  • Exclusives
    • Financial Analysis
    • Corporate Stories
    • Interviews
    • Investigations
    • Metrics
    • Economy
    • Nairalytics
  • Markets
    • Currencies
    • Cryptos
    • Commodities
    • Equities
      • Company Results
      • Dividends
      • Stock Market
    • Fixed Income
    • Market Views
    • Securities
  • Sectors
    • Agriculture
    • Aviation
    • Company News
    • Consumer Goods
    • Corporate Updates
    • Corporate deals
    • Corporate Press Releases
    • Energy
    • Entertainment
    • Financial Services
    • Health
    • Hospitality & Travel
    • Manufacturing
    • Real Estate and Construction
    • Renewables & Sustainability
    • Tech News
  • Business News
    • Budget
    • Public Debt
    • Funds Management
    • Tax
  • Financial Literacy
    • Career tips
    • Personal Finance
  • Lifestyle
    • Billionaire Watch
    • Profiles
  • Opinions
    • Blurb
    • Op-Eds
    • Research Analysis
  • Recapitalization
    • Access Holdings Offer
    • Fidelity Bank Offer
    • GTCO Offer
    • Zenith Bank Offer
  • Home
  • Exclusives
    • Financial Analysis
    • Corporate Stories
    • Interviews
    • Investigations
    • Metrics
    • Economy
    • Nairalytics
  • Markets
    • Currencies
    • Cryptos
    • Commodities
    • Equities
      • Company Results
      • Dividends
      • Stock Market
    • Fixed Income
    • Market Views
    • Securities
  • Sectors
    • Agriculture
    • Aviation
    • Company News
    • Consumer Goods
    • Corporate Updates
    • Corporate deals
    • Corporate Press Releases
    • Energy
    • Entertainment
    • Financial Services
    • Health
    • Hospitality & Travel
    • Manufacturing
    • Real Estate and Construction
    • Renewables & Sustainability
    • Tech News
  • Business News
    • Budget
    • Public Debt
    • Funds Management
    • Tax
  • Financial Literacy
    • Career tips
    • Personal Finance
  • Lifestyle
    • Billionaire Watch
    • Profiles
  • Opinions
    • Blurb
    • Op-Eds
    • Research Analysis
  • Recapitalization
    • Access Holdings Offer
    • Fidelity Bank Offer
    • GTCO Offer
    • Zenith Bank Offer
Nairametrics
No Result
View All Result
Home Business News

Tax evasion: Tribunal orders Multichoice to pay N900 billion tax backlog to FIRS

Chike Olisah by Chike Olisah
August 26, 2021
in Business News, Spotlight, Tax
Multichoice
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Linkedin

A Tax Appeal Tribunal (TAT) sitting in Lagos has ordered Multichoice Nigeria Limited, owners of cable television services, DSTV and Gotv, to pay 50% of N1.8 trillion tax backlog to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

The 5-member TAT, led by its Chairman, Prof. A.B. Ahmed, issued an order for Multichoice to make the N900 billion tax backlog payment, following an application to it by the counsel to FIRS.

This disclosure was contained in a statement issued by the Director, Communications and Liaison Department of the FIRS, Mr Abdullahi Ahmad, in Abuja on Wednesday.

RelatedStories

FCCPC probes GTBank, MTN and Air Peace over alleged customer rights violations

FCCPC to arraign MultiChoice CEO, Pay TV Directors for allegedly Impeding Investigation

June 24, 2025
Multichoice, FCCPC

Court dismisses MultiChoice request to uphold ‘GOtv, DStv Price Increases’ in Nigeria  

May 8, 2025

Ahmad explained that FIRS discovered the backlog through a forensic audit, as it allegedly showed that Multichoice Nigeria Limited had failed to pay to the Government of Nigeria in past assessment years.

What the Director of FIRS said in the statement

Ahmad stated that the counsel made the application under Order XI of the TAT Procedure Rules 2010, which requires Multichoice or any other taxpayer who disputes their tax assessments, to make the statutory deposit required under Paragraph 15(7) of the Fifth Schedule to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (Establishment) Act 2007 (FIRS Act).

He said that these relevant laws are conditions that must be fulfilled before the prosecution of the appeal brought before TAT.

The FIRS Director said, “In certain defined circumstances to which the Multichoice appeal fits, paragraph 15(7) of the fifth schedule to the FIRS (Establishment) Act 2007 requires persons or companies seeking to contest a tax assessment to pay all or a stipulated percentage of the tax assessed before they can be allowed to argue their appeal contesting the assessment at TAT.

“Multichoice Nigeria Limited filed the matter at the Lagos TAT following its dispute over FIRS issuance of Notices of Assessment and Demand Note in the sum of N1,822,923,909,313.94k on 7 April, 2021.

“The amount constitutes what the FIRS calculated as due in taxation to the Federal Government of Nigeria from Multichoice after an investigation over several months to determine the extent to which Multichoice has been evading taxes in Nigeria.’’

Ahmad noted that at Tuesday’s hearing of the matter in Appeal, Multichoice Nigeria Limited amended its Notice of Appeal and thereafter sought, through its counsel, Bidemi Olumide of AO2 Law Firm, for an adjournment of the proceedings to enable it to respond to the FIRS’ formal application for accelerated hearing of the appeal.

He said, “In response, the FIRS counsel asked TAT to issue an order requiring that Multichoice make the statutory deposit of 50 per cent of the disputed sum.

“After hearing arguments from both sides, TAT upheld the FIRS Act and directed Multichoice Nigeria Limited to deposit with the FIRS the amount prescribed by the law, which is an amount equal to the tax charged upon Multichoice in the preceding year of assessment.

“Or one half of the tax charged by the assessment under appeal (whichever is lesser), plus a sum equal to 10 percent of the said deposit as a condition precedent for further hearing of the Appeal.

“Thereafter, TAT adjourned the Appeal to September 23, 2021 for the continuation of the hearing, subject to compliance with the Tribunal’s order.’’

What you should know

It can be recalled that in July 2021, the FIRS had appointed some commercial banks as agents to recover N1.8 trillion from accounts of MultiChoice Nigeria Limited (MCN) And MultiChoice Africa (MCA).

Muhammad Nami, FIRS chairman, said the decision to appoint the banks as agents and to freeze the accounts resulted from the group’s continued refusal to grant FIRS access to its servers for audit.

The FIRS said it determined through a forensic audit that Multichoice Nigeria Limited had failed to pay to the federal government of Nigeria taxes worth N1.8 trillion.

In its reaction, Multichoice assured that it would work with FIRS to prove its tax compliance.

Tags: Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS)MultiChoice Nigeria LimitedTax Appeal Tribunal (TAT)
Chike Olisah

Chike Olisah

Chike was a banker with over 11 years experience in retail and commercial banking, risk management, treasury portfolio management and relationship management. He also acquired some experience in financial management and do have some special interest in investment analysis and personal finance. He had stints with financial institutions like the former Intercontinental Bank and Fidelity Bank.

Related Posts

FCCPC probes GTBank, MTN and Air Peace over alleged customer rights violations
Breaking News

FCCPC to arraign MultiChoice CEO, Pay TV Directors for allegedly Impeding Investigation

June 24, 2025
Multichoice, FCCPC
Breaking News

Court dismisses MultiChoice request to uphold ‘GOtv, DStv Price Increases’ in Nigeria  

May 8, 2025
Solid minerals sector is Nigeria’s next economic powerhouse – Zaccheaus Adedeji, FIRS Chairman
Business News

FIRS grants waivers on accumulated penalties, interests on outstanding tax liabilities

December 3, 2023
Solid minerals sector is Nigeria’s next economic powerhouse – Zaccheaus Adedeji, FIRS Chairman
Appointments

Senate confirms Zacch Adedeji as substantive FIRS Chairman

October 31, 2023
FIRS asks taxpayers to pay VAT to FG or pay penalties, should
Business

FIRS set to achieve record N13 trillion revenue collection in 2023 – outgoing Chairman

September 15, 2023
Tomato sellers in NIgeria, Nigeria’s tomato shortfall: What’s the way forward?     
Business

Tax reforms: FG moves to stop taxes on tomatoes, raw food items soon

August 7, 2023
Next Post
National Lottery Act 2005 inconsistent with Nigeria’s constitution – Reps

National Lottery Act 2005 inconsistent with Nigeria’s constitution - Reps

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Emple
nlng
first bank
Zenth Bank








DUNS

Recent News

  • Gates Foundation renews $1.6 billion support to Gavi to sustain childhood immunization amid aid cuts 
  • Lagos launches HaemoCentral system, LSBTC website to digitize blood transfusion services 
  • Select SWOOTs soar as All-Share nears 120,000; OKOMUOIL trades N3.2 billion value 

Follow us on social media:

Recent News

Gates Foundation renews $1.6 billion support to Gavi to sustain childhood immunization amid aid cuts 

Gates Foundation renews $1.6 billion support to Gavi to sustain childhood immunization amid aid cuts 

June 25, 2025
Lagos launches HaemoCentral system, LSBTC website to digitize blood transfusion services 

Lagos launches HaemoCentral system, LSBTC website to digitize blood transfusion services 

June 25, 2025
  • iOS App
  • Android App
  • Contact Us
  • Home
  • Markets
  • Sectors
  • Economy
  • Business News
  • Financial Literacy
  • Disclaimer
  • Ads Disclaimer
  • Copyright Infringement

© 2025 Nairametrics

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
Social Media Auto Publish Powered By : XYZScripts.com
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Exclusives
    • Financial Analysis
    • Corporate Stories
    • Interviews
    • Investigations
    • Metrics
    • Economy
    • Nairalytics
  • Markets
    • Currencies
    • Cryptos
    • Commodities
    • Equities
      • Company Results
      • Dividends
      • Stock Market
    • Fixed Income
    • Market Views
    • Securities
  • Sectors
    • Agriculture
    • Aviation
    • Company News
    • Consumer Goods
    • Corporate Updates
    • Corporate deals
    • Corporate Press Releases
    • Energy
    • Entertainment
    • Financial Services
    • Health
    • Hospitality & Travel
    • Manufacturing
    • Real Estate and Construction
    • Renewables & Sustainability
    • Tech News
  • Business News
    • Budget
    • Public Debt
    • Funds Management
    • Tax
  • Financial Literacy
    • Career tips
    • Personal Finance
  • Lifestyle
    • Billionaire Watch
    • Profiles
  • Opinions
    • Blurb
    • Op-Eds
    • Research Analysis
  • Recapitalization
    • Access Holdings Offer
    • Fidelity Bank Offer
    • GTCO Offer
    • Zenith Bank Offer
  • Login
  • Sign Up

© 2025 Nairametrics