Angela Mbaocha, Abakaliki
Ebonyi State government on Tuesday, sealed the Guarantee Trust Bank branch, in the state capital, Abakaliki, over non payment of accumulated tax.
The exercise was led by the Ebonyi State Board of Internal Revenue Service taskforce leader, Mr. Okoro Celestine, during work hours.
Okoro, who is also the head of Integrated Revenue, Ebonyi State Board of Internal Revenue Service, said that the closure was due to the inability of the bank to respond to demand notices to pay its accumulated tax.
He said the taskforce sought for court order before sealing the bank, even as the amount owed by the Bank was not disclosed.
He explained that several demand notices were served to the bank from January 14th till date, but there was no response.
Noting, “The reason we sealed the bank was that they have not been paying their taxes and levies which have accumulated.
“This is not the first time we are coming here; several demand notices have been served to them from January 14, 2022 till date, and we have a procedure, we don’t just come and seal. A court order was granted for us to come and seal it.
“First demand notice was giving to them; a remind notice was also giving to them but they refused. We don’t have any other option; we are not going to fight them other than to do the needful as they got a court order to seal them.
“We feel that it is very necessary for it to be sealed today. We are not going to unseal it until they comply. We didn’t just start this journey today; it has been from January till date which is seven months.”
All efforts to get the reaction of the bank manager proved abortive as he declined to speak over the matter.
