FIRS seals off hotels, eatery over non-payment of tax in Benue

FEDERAL  Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), on Thursday, stormed  Makurdi, the Benue State capital, and sealed off two hotels and popular eatery among them the hotel belonging to the wife of former governor of the state and  now serving senator, Mrs Regina Akume, over non payment of tax, all totaling N69.5million.

The hotels sealed off included HAF HAVEN hotel located on Atiku Abubakar way, Gwalima Suites at high level and Treaties Bukka  (an eatery)  at same high level,  all in Makurdi, Benue State capital.

The team, led by Chinazor Edeh, said the affected organisations had refused to remit the required taxes since  2011 as required by law to government, a development, he said, was unpatriotic.

According to the team leader, HAF HAVEN hotel owed N13.5million,  Gwalima Suites, N4million, while Treaties Bukka owed N52million, they are the unremittted liabilities  in terms of Company Income Tax, Education Tax, Withholding Tax and Value Added Tax (VAT).

All efforts by the former Benue First Lady and wife of former senate minority leader, senator Geaorge Akume, to speak through her hotel manager, Mrs Margaret Hinger,  to the team leader, was rebuffed.