The Rivers State Board of Internal Revenue (RSBIR) has initiated a contempt proceeding before the High Court of Rivers State against the Managing Director and three other officials of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for unsealing the premises of the NDDC without a court order.
The court had on April 17, 2019 ordered that NDDC is indebted to RSBIS to the tune of N50 billion, being outstanding tax liability owed the government of Rivers State by NDDC with respect to Pay As You Earn (PAYE), withholding tax and other taxes unpaid for the period between 2012 and 2017.
The court also ordered the issuance of a warrant, authorising RSBIR to seal any land and or any other property belonging to NDDC in order to recover the said sum and further ordered NDDC to pay the sum of N20 million as cost incidental to the recovery of the amount owed.
The applicant executed the order on April 23, and sealed three properties in Port Harcourt belonging to NDDC. After failed attempt to resolve the matter, NDDC filed a notice of appeal at the Court of Appeal, challenging the decision that it is indebted to RSBIR.
On May 6, NDDC allegedly unsealed all three premises, which were sealed by RSBIR, repossessed them and put armed mobile policemen in front of their premises, without an order of court, prompting the contempt action.
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The court had on April 17, 2019 ordered that NDDC is indebted to RSBIS to the tune of N50 billion, being outstanding tax liability owed the government of Rivers State by NDDC with respect to Pay As You Earn (PAYE), withholding tax and other taxes unpaid for the period between 2012 and 2017.
The court also ordered the issuance of a warrant, authorising RSBIR to seal any land and or any other property belonging to NDDC in order to recover the said sum and further ordered NDDC to pay the sum of N20 million as cost incidental to the recovery of the amount owed.
The applicant executed the order on April 23, and sealed three properties in Port Harcourt belonging to NDDC. After failed attempt to resolve the matter, NDDC filed a notice of appeal at the Court of Appeal, challenging the decision that it is indebted to RSBIR.
On May 6, NDDC allegedly unsealed all three premises, which were sealed by RSBIR, repossessed them and put armed mobile policemen in front of their premises, without an order of court, prompting the contempt action.
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