FIRS Warns Atiku’s INTELS to Pay Backlog of Owed Taxes, Denies Sealing Up Firm …Stay Clear of Politics, Frank Tells FIRS

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has dismissed rumours that the premises of Integrated Logistic Limited (Intels) had been shut by the enforcement team of the agency over non-fulfilment of its mandatory tax obligations. It said it’s officers only issued a warning to the firm to remit long due federal taxes.

There were reports on Monday that Intels, an oil services company linked to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, had its Headquarters in Onne, Rivers State, sealed by the FIRS due to unremitted taxes.

However, the Spokesman of FIRS, Wahab Gbadamosi, said what the staff of the agency did at Intels premises in Onne, was to paste a Notice of Non-compliance sticker on the facility.

According to him, such move was normal as many companies in the country carry such stickers as a reminder of the need to fulfil their tax obligations.

“It does not in any way halt or affect the company’s (Intels) operations. It’s not even a punitive move. It’s like a reminder to fulfil their obligations, especially on the Company’s Income Tax (CIT) and Value Added Tax (VAT) as enshrined in their respective Acts,” he explained.

“It’s part of our compliance procedures. It is because of the political atmosphere in the country today that people are reading wrong meanings to it. It’s nothing other than our compliance procedure.”

It was also gathered that the Nigeria Free Zone Authority also wrote to Intels, accusing the oil services company of operating illegally, within the zone which means that the appropriate authorities such the Immigration Service may ask most expatriates operating at Intels to leave.

But there are concerns that the latest “attack” on Intels may be connected to Atiku’s rumoured interest in contesting for the presidential election in 2019.

Meanwhile, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank, has asked the Federal Inland Revenue (FIRS) and other federal government agencies not to drag themselves into the politics of 2019 general election.

A statement he issued on Monday in Abuja in reaction to reports of sealing Integrated Logistic Services Nigeria Limited (Intels) office, a company in which the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has interests, by the FIRS, Frank said the action could be a ploy to weaken Atiku ahead of his perceived ambition for 2019.

"This is not the time to play politics with the issues of governance. Could it be another ploy to weaken Atiku ahead of his perceived ambition for 2019?” Frank asked.

While condemning the sealing of Intels by FIRS, Frank wondered why FIRS just realised the non-payment of tax by Intels and Export Free Zone also decided that Intels is operating illegally.

"It is pertinent to note that in the history since the establishment of Intels, no central government has ever brazenly persecuted Intels like this present government.

"The act of the FIRS, NPA, and FTZ as agencies of government is and can be seen to be a calculated attempt to humiliate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

"How come FIRS just realised the non- payment of tax by Intels? The export free zone just realised that Intels is operating illegally. If the agencies just realised all these , it means they have shown total failure  in discharging their duties,” he stated.