Ondo State Internal Revenue Service (ODIRS) has sealed off three business premises for non payment of Land Use Charge. The businesses sealed are: Domfav Hotel & Janet’s Lounge, Moth Hotel both in Okitipupa and Anambra Kitchen in Ore, all in Ondo South Senatorial District of the State.
The enforcement exercise took place following the judgment of the High Court Order, ruled by Hon. Justice Wlliams Akintoroye.
The Domfav hotel is said to be in default of 3 Million, Four Hundred and Ninety Two Thousand, Eight Hundred and Forty Nine Naira (#3,492,849), Moth Hotel in default of One Million, Five Hundred and Ninety Seven Thousand, Three Hundred and Seventy Two Naira (#1,597,372) and Anambra Kitchen in default of One Hundred and Twenty Thousand Naira (#120,000.00) and have refused to comply despite receiving several warnings which led to their closure by the Revenue Officials.
According to Barrister Gregory Afuwape, a Senior Revenue Manager in ODIRS who led the team said the owner of Domfav Hotel has been accessed between 2013 and 2016 but he didn’t show up for payment and despite being served every statutory notice.
He added that the officials had every documents that backed the enforcement up that the judgment was made under the statutory authority which is the judiciary.
He further stressed that law allows settlement after judgment. Even after enforcement, the tax payer can approach the tax authority for settlement.
He noted that it would be out of law for anyone to break the padlock or the seal on the premises as it is called obstruction in law, which will be contempt of court and would result to more than twenty one years imprisonment.