The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) sealed off the Haf Haven Hotel, located at 24 Atiku Abubakar Way in Makurdi, Benue State on Thursday. According to statements made the hotel, owned by Senator George Akume, was shut down due to unpaid taxes.
Regina Chinazor Edeh, the leader of the FIRS enforcement team, said that the hotel owed N13.5 million in taxes since 2011 which includes unpaid company income tax, education tax, withholding taxes, and value added tax.
A management staffer of the hotel, Margaret Hinger, phoned Mr. Akume’s wife saying that Mrs. Edeh insisted that unless full payment of the tax liabilities was made the hotel would be sealed.
''I am duty-bound to seal off the hotel and am under instruction not to speak with anyone on phone. Please, pay the money, so we can leave your premises,'' Edeh reportedly said.
The team ordered the hotel to discharge its guests while staff closed for the day.
The hotel was subsequently sealed.
The enforcement team also shut down Treaties Bukka at Old Oturkpo Road Makurdi. According to the Warrant of Distrait, the eatery owes N52 million in Withholding Tax and Value Added Tax from 2013 to 2015.
The same fate befell Gwalina Suites Nigeria Limited, which owes N4.4 million in Withholding Tax and VAT.
Earlier in the week the FIRS sealed off the operational office of Skyjet Aviation Services Limited, located at the Kaduna International Airport. The aviation firm owes N178.4 million in Company Income Tax and Withholding Tax.
