Anambra shuts banks over N6.9B tax , others in Awka

www.odogwublog.com reports that Anambra State Internal Revenue Service Board has sealed off branches of the United Bank for Africa, UBA, across the state following tax remittance irregularities.

The seal-off supervised by the Legal Enforcement Unit of the internal revenue board has left most banking customers stranded , as Automated Teller Machines, ATMs in the said bank's branches are also shut down.

At each of the bank's branches, stranded customers and staff members were greeted with court-backed distrain stickers pasted on the bank's entrances, while security agents, and compliance monitoring officers from the revenue office hang around the banks.

When contacted, the Chairman and Chief Executive of the Anambra State Internal Revenue Service, Dr David Nzekwue, said the Board was acting in line with distrain order compelling the bank's branches to be sealed following non-remittance of six point nine billion Naira tax revenue accrued from the personal income tax deductions from its employees.

He said the money is owed between Two Thousand and Six and Two Thousand and Eleven, noting that the bank having failed to provide the necessary documents needed for an audit in Two Thousand and Seventeen, was served a preceding Best of Judgement Assessment notice, of which it's default has led to the seal-off.

Stressing that the Board exercises its powers in line with best legal standards, Dr Nzekwue regretted the inconveniences caused by the seal-off on the customers, adding that the Board is always open for negotiations.

Efforts to speak with officials of the bank proved abortive as at the time of filing the report.

In their reactions, some of the bank's customers including Chief Emmanuel Ejidike and Mr. Julius Iloegbunam, called for an immediate resolution of the face-off, as it is likely to have adverse effects on the both the customers and states revenue generation machinery .