Akwa Ibom Shuts Banks Over N228m Tax

Several stranded customers yesterday in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, expressed sadness at the premises of two commercial banks axed by the state government over alleged inability to meet up with their tax obligations running into N228million.

The Akwa Ibom Internal Revenue Service had on Thursday clampdown on the two erring commercial banks, disrupting their operations with several customers stranded after being locked out by operatives on sting operation.

The affected banks, LEADERSHIP Weekend gathered, include Keystone Bank branch on Abak Road and Heritage Bank along Ikot Ekpene Road, which are under lock for allegedly failing to effect their tax remittances after several notices by the state’s tax authorities.

Lamenting his ordeal, one of the  customers at Keystone Bank, Engr. Emmanuel Akpan, a transmitter engineer at the state-run Akwa Ibom Broadcasting Corporation (AKBC) Television, told our correspondent; “I came this morning to check whether my salary has been paid since I have not got the alert, only to see this ‘Distrain Notice’ and the chain with policemen stopping customers.”

The executive director in  charge of enforcement and debt recovery of the  revenue agency, Mr Leo Umana, said the action became necessary after the service obtained an ex-parte order of Notice of Distrain  from the state High Court, Uyo Division. 

According to him, Heritage Bank failed to pay N100,270,910 while Keystone Bank refused to pay N128,413,882 owed the state government as tax liabilities. 

He said: “The court order was signed by Hon. Justice Effiong Effiong who ordered that access to the bank premises and its facilities be restricted.

“The two banks have not been remitting actual tax from employees’ salaries as well as other taxes meant for the state,” adding that the banks were given warning notices, but failed to comply after several months.

 “The Akwa Ibom State Internal Revenue Service had exhausted reconciliation and negotiation opportunities with the organisations before settling for action. For the banks served the Notice of Distrain, under the law, they have 14 days to negotiate with AKIRS and vacate the order. 

 “If after 14 days, they do not comply, we have the mandate of the Court to sell the property and recover the tax owed the State,” he said.