Kaduna Seals Banks, Others Over N1.7 Billion Tax

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Just barely 24 hours after the Kano State authorities sealed some business premises including, Max Air, belonging to Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso’s newest in-law Dahiru Mangal, for an alleged tax evasion, the Kaduna State Government on Tuesday  November 26,  clamped down on some  banks and others on similar grounds .

The Source reports that the Kano State Government, on Monday, November 25, 2024, sealed the business premises of three companies, including Max Air situated on Ashton Road in the commercial hub of the North for, allegedly, evading their tax payment obligations  between the years of 2012 and 2017.

Curiously, the action against Max Air  came less than two weeks after the owner, Katsina born Mangal led his son  to tie the nuptial knot with  the daughter of Senator Kwankwanso, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s political godfather at a well celebrated ceremony in Kano .

Also sanctioned were construction giant Dantata and Sawoe and Northern Rice and Oil mill for allegedly withholding several millions of Naira in tax payments to the Kano state authorities between 2021 and 2022.

According to the Director, Kano State Debt Management and Enforcement Agency, Ibrahim Abdullahi, the closure of the companies was sequel to a court order to that effect.

He noted that the Agency had to resort to the sealing of their business premises to compel payments.

Affected in the sealing exercise carried out by the Kaduna State Board of Internal Revenue  Service, include  the popular Hamdala Hotel,  Unity Bank ,First City Monument  Bank, Bank of Agriculture, BOA, and Chicken Republic ,a fast food outfit.

Most of the affected organizations which are located on Yakubu Gowon Way Kaduna, according to the Secretary/Executive Director Of Legal Services of the board Bar, Aisha Ahmad are  withholding tax  payments obligations to the Kaduna state Government in excess of about N1.7 billion.

She explained that the action became necessary following the failure of the parties to explore all legal and peaceful avenues towards resolving the issue .

The premises of the affected organizations  will only be reopened when all issues involved are fully resolved,particularly that of the land use tax ,she stated.