N464m tax evasion: Revenue agency unseals Kaduna electric headquarters after some hours

The Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS) has unsealed the headquarters of the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (Kaduna Electric) that it earlier sealed off over tax liabilities to the tune of N464 million.

The revenue agency on its Twitter handle said the tax arrears were incurred between 2012 and 2018 year of assessment.

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Though the management of Kaduna Electric has not made any official statement, sources within the company said there was a misunderstanding between the company and the agency, adding that the issue has been resolved.

Our correspondent tried to reach the Public Relations Office of the service but his phone was unavailable.

Our correspondent, who visited the company, observed the gates under seal with bold red stickers reading ‘Distrain Order’.

They have, however, been removed and the company is open for business.

Daily Trust reports that customers unaware of the earlier situation where thrown into a state of panic as they wondered how they would recharge their meters among other services provided by the electricity company.

The management of Kaduna Electric has, however, not made any official statement.

An official of the company who spoke off the record had said: “It is unfortunate that the Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service would resort to the action it took over N464, 486, 991.53k when the Ministries, Department and Agencies of the State Government owe Kaduna Electric a debt of over N2 billion for electricity consumed.

“Despite the enormous pressure on us from the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry to pay our market obligations, Kaduna Electric has never taken a similar drastic measure to disconnect all the accounts of the state’s MDAs.

“It is worrisome that the revenue service will take action over alleged liabilities dating back to 2012 when Kaduna Electric only took over in 2014 forgetting perhaps that all liabilities before take over have been absorbed by the Nigerian Electricity Liability Management Company (NELMCO).”