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Osun, Delta Fine Google, Meta For Tax Evasion

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The tax authorities in Osun and Delta states have fined Google Nigeria and Meta Platforms, Inc, $150 mllion and $200 million respectively for alleged non-remittance of Withholding Tax.
The fine is specifically for the Withholding Tax allegedly deducted from content creators and entertainers in the two states from 2020 till date.
This is contained in separate letters signed by Messrs Sola Adewunmi, and Solomon Ighrakpata, Executive Chairmen, Osun and Delta States Internal Revenue Service (IRS) respectively.
The letters, also signed by Ademola Odetunde, Chief Operating Officer, LafriquePromedia Ltd., the revenue collection agent for the states, were made available to The Tide’s source in Lagos, yesterday.
According to Odetunde, LafriquePromedia is also consulting for the IRS of Plateau, which is also facing the same challenge and coming up with similar demand.
He said that the companies were issued a 14-day notice of compliance, effective July 12 and July 19 respectively, from the affected states.
He said that the companies, upon the receipt of those letters, would face the consequences for non-compliance.
Odetunde said that the states were demanding for the payment of $50 million and $200 million respectively, being assessed withholding tax deducted, but not remitted by the companies, at the rate of five per cent to the states.
He said that the revenue or payment were from digital services provided to content creators, practitioners in the entertainment and creative sector within Delta and Osun states.
“By this demands and notices for compliance, we hereby advise your companies to comply with our demands through our revenue agent within the next 14 days.
“We want to bring your attention to the fact that the concept of WHT is a form of advance payment of income tax, which is deductable at source on payment made for certain commercial transactions by Nigerian customers.
“Same must be remitted to the appropriate tax authorities – Federal, by corporate bodies, or State Internal Revenue Service, by individual, enterprises and partnership within 21 days after the end of the month the transaction was made,” he said.
According to him, the companies, as an operator of Social Media Platform within the Osun and Delta states’ digital landscape, are mandated to withhold tax in line with the provisions of the extant law.
Odetunde, who is also a legal practitioner, added that the law required non-resident companies providing digital services in Nigeria to withhold tax.
He said that this also meant that the companies were required by law to collect and remit WHT on digital services provided to customers within the Osun and Delta states’ digital landscape.
He recalled that the concept of withholding tax was introduced to curb tax leakages, gather information of commercial activities being carried out by both resident and non-resident businesses.
Withholding tax is mostly used for collecting tax on non-residents’ income in Nigeria where cross border enforcement is impracticable.
Odetunde said the procedure for implementing withholding tax for non-resident companies operating digital services within Osun and Delta states’ digital landscape included the deduction of such tax from payments for specified activities.
He said the procedure also included services provided to content creators and online practitioners within Osun and Delta states as well as remittances of the tax to the relevant tax authorities through its designated agent.
The legal practitioner also said that the submission of withholding tax schedules to the relevant tax authorities showing details of the beneficiaries such as the name and address of the recipient, was part of the procedure.
It also included the gross amount of the transaction, the amount of the tax and the percentage that had been deducted among other things.
Odetunde said: “We observed that over the years your companies willfully refused, failed and neglected to remit the withheld tax to the local tax authority for Osun and Delta states, Nigeria.
“Take further notice that, when a non-resident company deducts WHT from payment for digital services provided to customers within Osun and Delta states digital landscape.
“Without remitting the same to the local tax authorities, which is Osun and Delta States Internal Revenue Services, a criminal offence has been committed by such non-resident company.
“The law permits us to prosecute the offending non-resident companies and take necessary steps to recover the WHT.”
Odetunde warned the companies to also note that the penalty for non-compliance for companies, including non-resident companies, upon conviction, included a fine of 10 per cent of the amount not deducted or deducted but not remitted.
He said: “This shall be added thereto, plus interest at the prevailing commercial rate presently at 21 per cent, while the officers of a non-compliant corporate taxpayer may be imprisoned or fined or both, if found guilty of tax crime.
“We do hope that this polite demand notice for compliance will jolt your company to do the needful without further delay.”
According to Odetunde, the revenue agent has been writing to the companies since Oct. 13, 2023 in respect of the matter, to no avail.

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Rivers DPOs Receive Awards For Outstanding Performance In Crime Prevention …As Students, Media Group Honour CSP Worgu, CSP Yusuf

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Two Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) in Rivers State have been honoured by separate groups for their contributions to security, crime prevention and improved community-police relations in their respective areas of responsibility.

The beneficiaries are the DPO of Afam Police Division, CSP  Endurance Worgu and his counterpart at Oyigbo Police Division, CSP Bello Yusuf.

CSP Worgu was honoured by a group of students under the aegis of Rivers State Graduate Students Associations for what they described as his commitment and outstanding performance in the discharge of his duties.

The students, led by  Chidi John Enyie, Esq. said CSP Worgu was selected based on his track record and status as one of the longest-serving young DPOs of Rivers State origin.

According to the group, CSP Worgu has made significant contributions to the protection of lives and property in the area since assuming office following the #EndSARS period.

The students said they were particularly impressed by the improvement in community-police relations under his leadership, noting that professionalism had remained a key feature of his service.

Enyie represented by Comrade Briggs Soku, said the students community was pleased to identify with a Rivers indigene who had distinguished himself in the police force.

He said the students considered it necessary to encourage and celebrate CSP Worgu because of his achievements as a young Rivers man excelling in a profession that many people from the state were often reluctant to join.

Receiving the award at his office in Afam, CSP Worgu expressed gratitude to God and the students for finding him worthy of the honour.

The DPO said the recognition had boosted his morale and encouraged him to sustain his efforts towards maintaining peace and security in the area.

He said he least expected the honour, particularly because it came from the students, adding that the recognition would further motivate him to serve the people better.

CSP Worgu assured residents of Afam that the police would sustain the existing peace in the area.

He appealed to members of the public to support the police by providing credible and timely information, stressing that useful information from residents would make the job of security personnel easier.

Meanwhile, the Ikwerre/Etche Media Association has also honoured the DPO of Oyigbo Police Division, CSP Bello Yusuf, for his efforts in tackling criminal activities in the area.

The media group presented the award following the swift tracking and arrest of five suspected kidnappers who had allegedly terrorised residents of the Kom-Kom axis and other parts of Oyigbo.

The group commended CSP Bello for what it described as his determined efforts to restore confidence and security in the affected communities, particularly Kom-Kom and Obeama.

According to the group, the arrest of the suspects demonstrated the DPO’s commitment to tackling criminality and safeguarding residents.

The media association said residents had received the development with relief, noting that the police action had sent a strong message to criminal elements operating in the area.

Responding, CSP Yusuf appreciated the group for the recognition and reaffirmed that there would be no room for criminality in Oyigbo.

He also commended the media for its role in disseminating credible information to the public, saying the media had remained supportive of the police in the fight against crime.

CSP Yusuf warned criminal elements operating in Oyigbo to leave the area or be prepared to face the full weight of the law.

He assured residents that the police would continue to pursue criminals and work to dismantle their hideouts, regardless of where they might be operating.

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College Of Bishops Endorses Tinubu, APC Candidates  For 2027 Polls

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The 5000 Achievers Christian Forum and Colleges of Bishops, Archbishops and Apostles, a Christian interdenominational organisation, has endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State for the 2027 general elections.

International President of the forum, Archbishop Lucky Aroh, disclosed this during the ordination and consecration of three new Bishops, as well as an award ceremony held in Port Harcourt.

Aroh said the performance of the APC-led Federal Government had endeared the party to the organisation, prompting the forum to declare its support for President Tinubu and other APC candidates in Rivers State.

He said the forum would support all APC candidates in the state during the 2027 elections and urged Nigerians to vote for the party.

Aroh, who is also the General Overseer of Caring Peoples Church, Port Harcourt, charged the newly consecrated Bishops to see their new positions as a great responsibility and dedicate themselves to the advancement of the kingdom of God.

He cautioned them against conduct capable of bringing their offices into disrepute, stressing that their activities would be closely watched by members of the public.

“As Bishops, the eyes of the public are on your activities. You must therefore conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of your calling,” he said.

Also speaking, the International Coordinator of the forum, Bishop Saint Robinson, urged the newly consecrated Bishops to work diligently towards winning souls for the kingdom of God.

Robinson, who was the guest speaker at the event, stressed that the activities of Bishops must at all times be guided by godly principles.

He also called on members of the church to support and cooperate with the newly consecrated Bishops in the discharge of their responsibilities.

The Secretary of the College, Apostle Elizabeth Ayadi Abaye, said the organisation was established to advance the kingdom of God and promote spiritual development.

According to her, the forum has organised several crusades, conferences, prayer meetings, ordinations, consecrations, enthronements, empowerment programmes and other spiritual development activities across the country as part of efforts to win souls for Christ.

Abaye said the organisation has members across the world and disclosed that more programmes had been scheduled to promote the spiritual development and wellbeing of humanity.

The three Bishops consecrated at the ceremony were Prince Alban Chike, Testimony Omenihu Shedrach and Prince Ifemena.

Among those honoured at the event were the Chairman of the Community Development Committee (CDC), Abali Community, Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Manuchimso Prince Lemmy Wopara, and Clifford Oko Jaja, Coordinator of the 5,000 House-to-House for President Tinubu.

By: John Bibor

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Police Arrest Fake Soldier, Others For Armed Robbery, Kidnapping

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The Rivers State Police Command has arrested a 49-year-old suspected fake soldier, Andrew Atausi, and several other suspects in connection with various criminal activities, including kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, one-chance robbery and the alleged murder of police officers.

The State Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, disclosed this in Port Harcourt, recently during a press briefing at the Command Headquarters, where he said the arrests formed part of the operational achievements recorded by the Command between June and August 2026.

Adepoju said Atausi was arrested on August 10 by police operatives along Ada George, Port Harcourt, while dressed in military uniform and driving a Toyota Hilux painted in Army colours.

The Commissioner said investigation revealed that Atausi was not a member of the Armed Forces, adding that he was suspected to be a serial car snatcher, with three suspected stolen vehicles recovered from him.

He said the recovered vehicles included three Toyota Hilux vehicles without registration numbers and a Toyota Corona Premio with registration number BNY 380 ES, noting that the chassis and engine numbers of the vehicles had allegedly been tampered with.

Adepoju added that an axe and military accoutrements were also recovered from Atausi, as investigation continued into the circumstances surrounding the vehicles and other items recovered from him.

On the June 29 attack on police officers at Aluu Division, the Commissioner said three members of the gang allegedly responsible for the incident had been arrested by operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit, VCRU-AKU.

The suspects, identified as Maduabuchi Emeka, 34, alleged gang leader; Doctor Chinedu Owhor, 42, and Kamachi Joe, 28, alleged armourer, reportedly led operatives to their hideout at Omagwa where two AK-47 rifles stolen during the attack were recovered.

Adepoju recalled that two police officers were killed during the Aluu attack, while others were wounded and one officer had his leg amputated, stressing that efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fourth suspect.

On kidnapping, the Commissioner said five members of a suspected kidnapping syndicate were arrested in Oyigbo Local Government Area, adding that they allegedly confessed to operations in Kom-Kom, Railway, Obeama and Afam communities.

He said two other suspects from the same network, Anele Ogbogu, 35, alleged to be the gang’s armourer, and Kenneth Eke, 38, were arrested on July 27, with one AK-47 rifle and one SMG rifle recovered.

The Commissioner further disclosed the arrest of suspects in connection with alleged firearm offences, armed robbery, cultism and one-chance robbery, with firearms, ammunition and other exhibits recovered during the operations.

Adepoju assured residents that the Command would sustain intelligence-led, proactive and community-oriented policing in collaboration with other security agencies, while urging members of the public to continue providing credible information that would assist the police in combating crime across Rivers State.

By; King Onunwor

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