FEDERAL Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) on Monday arraigned Fortless Global Concept Limited and Everyday Wine Shop and their representatives at the Federal High Court, Abuja on alleged tax evasion, obstruction of official duty and attack on staff of the FIRS on duty among other charges.

In the Charge No: FHC/ABJ/CR/48/2019, between the Federal Government of Nigeria (Complainant) and Fortless Global Concept Limited (also known as Fortless Supermarket and Stores and Chukwu Ejike (Defendants), the FIRS preferred a six-count charge bordering on tax evasion and assault on FIRS staff on duty on the defendants pursuant to Section 174 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended) and Section 47 of the FIRS Establishment Act No: 13, 2007.

Similarly, in the Charge No: FHC/ABJ/CR/47/2019, between the Federal Government of Nigeria (Complainant) and Everyday Wine Shop (also known as Everyday Wine Shop &Bar), Mbah Sunday and Epkeha Peter (Defendants), FIRS preferred a six-count charge also bordering on tax evasion and assault on FIRS staff on duty on the defendants pursuant to Section 174 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended) and Section 47 of the FIRS Establishment Act No: 13, 2007. Representatives of the two companies who are currently on administrative bail: Mbah Sunday and Epkeha Peter for Everyday Wine Shop and Chukwu Ejike for Fortless Global Concept pleaded not guilty to the charges. Justice Taiwo O. Taiwo of the Federal High Court 10, Abuja granted the application of the leader of FIRS prosecution counsel, James Binang and scheduled March 21, 2019, for the FIRS to prove the charges against the defendants. The Court also granted that the counsels should bring the defendants to Court on 21 March 21, 2019, for further hearing.

Some of the Charges against Everyday Wine Shop are:
“That you, Everyday Wine Shop (aka Everyday Wine Shop and Bar) 2. Mbah Sunday and 3. Epkeha Peter on or about the 24th day of January 2019 at the Federal Housing Estate, Lugbe, Abuja, within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, being obliged to deduct and remit Value Added Tax (VAT) in the course of your business, conspired amongst yourselves to participate in Tax Evasion; and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 49(1) and (2) of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, No: 13, 2007. “That you, Everyday Wine Shop (aka Everyday Wine Shop and Bar) 2. Mbah Sunday and 3. Epkeha Peter on or about the 24th day of January 2019 at the Federal Housing Estate, Lugbe, Abuja, within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, being taxable persons conspired amongst yourselves to obstruct and assault authorised officers of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) in the course of the performance of their official functions; of pasting Value Added Tax (VAT) Non-Compliance Notice on business premises of persons and individuals adjudged by the Service to be Non Tax Compliant; and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 49(1) and (2) of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, No: 13, 2007. “That you, Everyday Wine Shop (aka Everyday Wine Shop and Bar) 2. Mbah Sunday and 3. Epkeha Peter on or about the 24th day of January 2019 at the Federal Housing Estate, Lugbe, Abuja, within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, being taxable persons conspired amongst yourselves obstructed and assaulted Miss Funke A. Shodunke, an authorised officers of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) in the course of the performance of their official functions; of pasting Value Added Tax (VAT) Non-Compliance Notice on business premises of persons and individuals adjudged by the Service to be Non Tax Compliant; and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 49(1) and (2) of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, No: 13, 2007,” the Charges read.

Source: Tribuneonlineng

It's important to pay taxes but in a country like this where most of the taxpayers money is squandered by the government, people are not motivated to pay. One day we'll get things right in this country

The small money dah you people didn't want to pay then has now turned to something huge... Ion blame them though, the FIRS themselves are corrupt, I remember a few years ago when some billions of naira were found under their chairman's bed

When was the last time Buhari paid tax on his cows?

dominique:
It's important to pay taxes but in a country like this where most of the taxpayers money is squandered by the government, people are not motivated to pay. One day we'll get things right in this country

True
People do not trust the government...

Corruption has made people see tax as fund meant for our leaders to embezzle. Whose fault? Our government! Can buhari fix this mess? Time will tell.

8GB Atm card flash drive for #1000 only. Check my signature below.

If you're reading this please pray for me.

they wouldnt tell us the name of these companies because soon money go change hands....the witness of a rat is another rat

Ok

This branch of revenue is really doing great but government has nothing to show for it

Rest in peace 2 those companies!

Its a good habit to pay tax...as good citizens of the country ... But how much tax do tinubu pay...I think the middle class pay more than the elites

Ipod supporters and criminal activities. Na curse?

dahmie2013:
Rest in peace 2 those companies!

WTAF!!! ���

If dem wan do this work wella, dem go arreign companies tire...tax evasion is a serious issue in this country and most of these companies don't even pay workers well.

Tax tax tax wetin them dey use am do sef i no sabi

does this have anything to do with those VAIDS billboards i used to see around? telling people they had until to such and such time to pay their taxes

I didnt even take it serious

okay

Nukilia:
When was the last time Buhari paid tax on his cows?

u lack home training, is buhari ur mate? Eleribu omo.

I hope one day we will get it right as a citizen and a government in this country

Jagaban is a tax collector

MEDICPATH:
Its a good habit to pay tax...as good citizens of the country ... But how much tax do tinubu pay...I think the middle class pay more than the elites

Dalexicographer:
The small money dah you people didn't want to pay then has now turned to something huge... Ion blame them though, the FIRS themselves are corrupt, I remember a few years ago when some billions of naira were found under their chairman's bed

.


You called it small money am sure your not running any business outlet or hve any company account only then you will understand what we pass through, we now do business with personal account.

Going to jail for stubbornness. Even if you disagree with a government official, don't get violent or take laws into your hands because if e happen now, small thing go turn into big case.

Lovelife433:
u lack home training, is buhari ur mate? Eleribu omo.

And you sound like someone having home training

eleojo23:

True People do not trust the government...

Can I eat hot beans and not mess?

Why should a company be evading tax, thats bad

Lanretoye:
If dem wan do this work wella, dem go arreign companies tire...tax evasion is a serious issue in this country and most of these companies don't even pay workers well.

And they make huge amount of revenue that if they pay their workers 6 figures it won't shake their income, e.g a secondary School pvt. Paying teachers 20k damn. The Exploitation of workers is too much,
This was exactly what Karl Marx & Friedrich Engels were complaining about