By Olu Samuel, Lokoja

The Kogi State Government has accused Dangote Cement Plc Obajana of breaching the state tax regulations and forging its tax receipts.

The Acting Chairman of Kogi Internal Revenue Service, Salisu Enehe made the accusations in Lokoja on Monday during the ongoing investigative hearing by the State House of Assembly Adhoc Committee on Revenue at the Assembly Complex in Lokoja.

Enehe was responding to the claim by the committee that the Company had paid over N14billion tax to the the Agency between 2016 till date.

According to the State Revenue Boss, most of the figures the company claimed to have paid are totally incorrect, urging the Company to double check its record.

He said despite the billions of Naira that Company is making from the State monthly, it had failed to pay taxes that are due to the State and Lokoja Local Government Area.

Enehe said instead of doing the needful, the Company approached the Court to stall payment of Taxes that are legally passed by the State Assembly and assented to by the Governor.

He noted that the lack of tax payment has slowed down the development of the State.

Also speaking, the Commissioner of Commerce and Industry, Gabriel Olofu said Dangote Company had refused to pay for business premises in the last two years.

Olusegun Ogunbanjo, Head of Accounts Dangote Cement Coy told the Committee that the Company had paid N14billion tax from 2016 till date.

Recall that in 2020, the Kogi state Government had sealed the multi-billion naira Cement factory, Obajana over tax evasion.

According to the State Information Commissioner, Kingsley Fanwo, the action was a reaction to an alleged attack on staff of the state Internal Revenue Service and security agents at the facility.

He explained that the BIR staff were at the premises of the company to effect a court order against the Cement company over tax default.

He further revealed that the state government also secured a court order against the company over issues of tax evasion.

He said however that the Management of the company had expressed its desire to settle out of court.

The State Assembly had in August this year set up a 7-man Ad-hoc Committee to investigate and ascertain the shares of the State in the establishment of Dangote Cement and other Companies.

While moving a motion at the resumption of plenary, the Speaker, Prince Matthew Kolawole lamented thayt despite the abundant natural resources in the State, it had earned less, despite revenue accruing from companies operating in the State