Kwara IRS denies victimising Igbo traders

Kwara Internal Revenue Services has debunked the alleged victimisation of Igbo business owners in the state over noncompliance with tax payment laws.

The clarification was contained in a press statement signed by the Head, Corporate Affairs of the agency, Funmilola Oguntunbi, and made available to the press in Ilorin, the state capital on Saturday

The agency explained that the alleged victimisation of Igbo traders by the agency published by an online platform  (not PUNCH Online) against the personality of the state governor, Mallam AbdulRaman AbdulRazaq and KW-IRS was a falsehood that targeted ethnic sentiment to gain undue public sentiment.

The statement read, “The attention of the Service has been drawn to a false, malicious, and inciting publication on 31st July 2024 by one online publication, International Centre for Investigative Reporting, against the personality of the Governor of Kwara State and the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service respectively.

“We are tempted to believe that this false narrative was at the instance of some members of the Kwara State Igbo Traders Association (KWAITA), which has recently instituted a legal action against the Service on 12th July 2024 on the same subject matter before the Kwara State High Court.

“In suit KWS/308/24 – NWANKWO SYLVESTER & 90 ORS VS KWARA STATE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE & 2 ORS. This action of twisting the facts through a media publication is, therefore, in bad faith.

”In response to the deliberate misinformation, we clarify as follows: Contrary to the unfounded allegation contained in the publication, at no time did the Governor of Kwara State explicitly or impliedly direct the Service to victimise or act in a particular way towards anyone based on their religion, ethnicity, or other personal social identity.”

While maintaining that the execution of tax judgment against traders in the state was non-discriminatory, KW-IRS said, “the execution of judgments was effected on six judgment debtors/taxpayers. Three of them are Igbo traders, while the remaining three are Yoruba traders.”

The judgment on debtors, according to the agency included, “Electrical appliances, Boutique dealers and a dealer in Automobile spare parts who were all Igbo traders with their shops located at Ibrahim Taiwo road area while three Yoruba traders/judgment debtors included a dealer in phone accessories, Trader and another providing Educational Services, also at Ibrahim Taiwo Road.

“The Service has adopted a non-discriminatory policy on prohibition of Associations on assessment and collection of personal income tax in compliance with relevant provisions of the federal law which is the Personal Income Tax Act, 2011 (as amended. The Service will not join issues with the publisher and cohort over issues that are already pending for adjudication before a court of competent jurisdiction as doing same will be Sub Judice.

“Against this background, and as a reputable Agency that firmly believes in the principles of the rule of law and judicial process, we would not allow anyone to drag the Service’s hard-earned reputation in the mud.

“We advise ICIR and those behind the unpatriotic publication to refrain from heating up the polity by subjecting matters already before a competent court to a court of public opinion where players sometimes intentionally choose which facts to state and which facts to suppress in the pursuit of their agenda. We urge the platform to refrain from interfering with the constitutional powers and functions of the Court”, it said.