Says ICIR online report inciting, false, malicious
By Olufemi Oni, Ilorin
The Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KW-IRS) has described as
malicious, false and inciting an
online report by the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) alleging that Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq directed the Agency to victimise any trader on the basis of their religion, ethnicity, or other personal social identity.
It would be recalled that an online medium, the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) had alleged that the tax régime in Kwara State by the KW-IRS was skewed against Igbo traders on the directive of Governor AbdulRazaq.
A statement by the Head, Corporate Affairs Department of KW-IRS, Funmilola Oguntunbi, said: “Contrary to the unfounded allegation contained in the publication, at no time did the Governor of Kwara State explicitly or impliedly direct the Service to victimise or act in a particular way towards anyone on the basis of their religion, ethnicity, or other personal social identity.
“We are, however, tempted to believe that this false narrative was at the instance of some members of the Kwara State Igbo Traders Association (KWAITA), which had recently instituted a legal action against the Service on 12th July, 2024 on the same subject matter before the Kwara State High Court in suit KWS/308/24 – NWANKWO SYLVESTER & 90 ORS VS KWARA STATE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE & 2 ORS. This action of twisting the fact through a media publication is, therefore, in bad faith.
“The execution of judgements was effected on six (6) judgement debtors / taxpayers. Three of them are Igbo traders, while the remaining three are Yoruba traders.”
According to the Revenue Agency, the businesses affected include the
Electrical appliances with business address at 154 Ibrahim Taiwo Road opp stadium gate, ilorin, Boutique dealers with a business address at 12,Taiwo Isale Ilorin, opposite Gada Market and Dealer in Auto mobile spare parts at Ibrahim Taiwo Road Adjacent Lapariah Tech owoniboys building Ilorin, for the Igbo traders/judgment debtors.
For the three Yoruba traders/judgment debtors, the affected, according to the statement, are Dealer in phone accessories with business address at 60, Ibrahim Taiwo Road, opposite Methodist church Taiwo isale Ilorin, Trading at 147, beside GTB PLC, Ibrahim Taiwo Road beside, Ilorin, and Educational Services, at 278 upper Taiwo Road beside Mama ifeoma Store.
The KW-IRS added: “We have made these disclosures as a matter of probity to give the lie to the wicked claims that any specific individuals are being targeted”, saying the
Service has adopted a non-discriminatory policy on prohibition of Associations on assessment and collection of personal income tax in compliance with relevant provisions of the federal law which is the Personal Income Tax Act, 2011 (as amended).
“The Service will not join issues with the publisher and cohort over issues that are already pending for adjudication before a court of competent jurisdiction as doing same will be subjudice.
“Against this background, and as a reputable Agency that firmly believes in the principles of the rule of law and judicial process, we would not allow anyone to drag the Service’s hard-earned reputation in the mud.
“We, therefore, advise ICIR and those behind the unpatriotic publication to refrain from heating up the polity by subjecting matters already before a competent court to a court of public opinion where players sometimes intentionally choose which facts to state and which facts to suppress in the pursuit of their agenda. We urge the platform to refrain from interfering with the constitutional powers and functions of the Court.”