N770m Tax Evasion: RSG Seals Firm

Rivers Cultural Troupe celebrating after emerging Overall Best State at the Abuja National Carnival 2012 in Abuja, yesterday.

Rivers State Government has sealed off the premises of Trans Ocean Support Nigeria Limited for tax evasion to the tune of over N770 million accruable to the state government.

Trans Ocean Support Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of Global Offshore Drilling Limited was alleged to have evaded the payment of taxes due to the state government of over N770 million, in spite of several efforts to make the company pay.

Speaking to newsmen on the decision to seal off the premises of the company, last Friday in Port Harcourt, the Director, Legal, Board of Internal Revenue, Barrister Helen Tamuno-Ibelema, said the action of the company contravened the law, hence, the issuance of a warrant, which it also flouted.

Barr Tamuno-Ibelema, explained that much as the Rivers State Government was committed to ensuring a conducive business environment for investors businesses, it was important for persons engaged in business in the state to know that tax default was a serious offence under the law.

According to her, the Board of Internal Revenue was resolute in ensuring that defaulters pay for their misdeeds, noting that the order to seal off the company was given by the court, meaning that the board followed due process on the matter.

“Pay your taxes because Rivers State Government needs it to develop the state, it is the taxes you pay that the state government uses to work,” she said, emphasising that the Board of Internal Revenue would continue to reprimand individuals and corporate bodies that default in paying their taxes.

Reacting to the sealing off of the firm, the Divisional Account Payable Manager of Trans Ocean Nigeria Limited, Mr Dominic Marizu Dominic, said he was not aware of the issuance of any warrant on the company.

He, however, admitted that his company was discussing issues relating to tax with the Board of Internal Revenue but declined to give details of the discussion, adding that “this tax issue is not within my jurisdiction.”

Meanwhile, workers of the company were seen in groups discussing the development.