Some Igbo traders in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State, on Friday closed down their businesses in protest against what they described as intimidation and over-taxation by Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KW-IRS).
The traders who took the protest to the State Revenue Court Premises to register their grievances said the allegations of tax default against members is false, insisting that the action of the revenue officials is capable of crippling their businesses.
The Igbo Traders Association, representing these businessmen, claimed that their tax payments are up to date, describing the revenue agency’s actions as unfair, especially in light of the current economic challenges.
According to the traders, officials of the revenue agency, stormed their shopping complexes with revenue mobile court to prosecute them, locking their business premises in the process without any form of prior notification or representation.
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Meanwhile, reacting to the allegations, KWIRS Corporate Affairs Department on behalf of the Executive Chairman, Shade Omoniyi, said the revenue agency conducted the mobile court to prosecute tax defaulters in the state to ensure tax compliance.
The state government, through the Corporate Affairs Department of the KW-IRS, stressed the legal backing of their actions while leaving room for affected parties to seek redress.
