The management of the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KWIRS) has denied the insinuation in some quarters that Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq allegedly directed the service to implement discriminatory tax policies against Igbo traders in the state.
It is recalled that some members of the Kwara State Igbo Traders Association (KWAITA) recently instituted a legal action against the Service on July 12, 2024, regarding the alleged discriminatory tax policy before the Kwara State High Court in suit KWS/308/24 – NWANKWO SYLVESTER & 90 ORS VS KWARA STATE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE & 2 ORS.
In a statement issued by the tax revenue agency, headed by Mrs. Shade Omoniyi through its Corporate Affairs Department, the agency described a recent media publication on the matter as an action aimed at twisting the facts and carried out in bad faith.
The statement said that, contrary to the allegations contained in the publication, at no time did the Governor of Kwara State explicitly or implicitly direct the Service to victimize or act in a particular way towards anyone based on their religion, ethnicity, or other personal social identity.
The agency also noted that the execution of judgments was effected on six judgment debtors/taxpayers, explaining that three of them are Igbo traders, while the remaining three are Yoruba traders.
The Service also stated that it adopted a non-discriminatory policy on the prohibition of associations in the assessment and collection of personal income tax, in compliance with relevant provisions of the federal law, specifically the Personal Income Tax Act, 2011 (as amended).
The statement reads:
PRESS RELEASE ON ALLEGED DISCRIMINATORY TAX POLICIES BY KW-IRS AGAINST IGBO TRADERS IN KWARA STATE
The attention of the Service has been drawn to a false, malicious, and inciting publication on July 31, 2024, by one online publication, International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), 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 recently instituted a legal action against the Service on July 12, 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:
Igbo traders/judgment debtors:
Yoruba traders/judgment debtors:
We have made these disclosures as a matter of probity to refute the malicious claims that specific individuals are being targeted.
“The Service will not join issues with the publisher and cohorts over matters that are already pending adjudication before a court of competent jurisdiction as doing so would 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 through the mud.
“In conclusion, 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.”