Tension in Nnewi as Anambra Govt. Seals-Off 3 Filling Stations, 7 Commercial Buildings, others Over Tax Evasion

The Head, Human Resources and Administration, Anambra Property and Land Use Charge (APLUC), Mrs Chinenye Okafor has said tax defaulters in Nnewi, Anambra State owed the government over N1.5 million
She said other summons have been prepared by the agency against tax defaulters but were yet to be filed in court.
To this end, Anambra State Government has sealed-off over 15 buildings in Nnewi including 7 commercial buildings, 3 filling station, 2 residential homes, one school and one hospital over the refusal of the owners to pay  property rate.
The Anambra Property and Land Use Charge (APLUC) carried out the closure of the buildings following judgments it obtained from an Nnewi Magistrate court against the tax evaders.
Speaking after the exercise, the Head, Human Resources and Administration of APLUC, Mrs Chinenye Okafor, said the affected buildings owed the state government a total of N1,455,814.59
According to her, 'In ensuring that we boost the Internaly Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state, there is the need for property and land owners to pay their rates,' Okafor said.
She said the organisation in 2014 and 2015 carried out enforcement in Awka and Onitsha in about 85 buildings, noting that more judgments would be issued as soon as possible.
'We are advising property owners in those areas as well as in Onitsha, Awka, Ogidi and Nkpor to go and pay their property rates or face the wrath of the law.
'We had discussion with some them and they had promised to pay since 5/11/2014, but up till now, we have not seen any positive response from them.
'We are no longer interested in continuing with begging and sensitisation because we have tried it for more than 2 years now and nothing was coming out of it.
'The government is considering the second option of litigation and enforcement this time,' Okafor warned.