A Federal High Court in Abeokuta, Ogun State, has ordered the Ewekoro Power Plant, EPP, located in Lagos, sealed for failure to pay outstanding taxes totaling N114 million.
This followed a suit by the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS and a prayer that a bench warrant be issued by the court for the arrest of the key officials of the company.
The court gave the order after a series of adjournments occasioned by the refusal of the company’s officials to appear in court.
The closure was carried out by court bailiffs, along with a combined team of FIRS officials and officers of the Lagos state Police Command.
Earlier, the FIRS approached the court to compel the company to meet its tax obligations but the company neither appeared nor was represented in the court prompting multiple adjournments.
Dissatisfied with the company`s conduct, the court issued a bench warrant to compel appearance which the officials of the company equally evaded necessitating the sealing of the company’s premises.
Justice P.F. Olayiwola, who ruled on FIRS motion on notice after hearing counsel to the Service, Adeyeoluwa Mathew, said the court hereby ordered as follows:
“That an order for interim forfeiture of property of corporate head office of Ewekoro Power Plant situate at Victoria House, 35/37, Isheri Road, Aguda Ogba area, Ikeja, Lagos State pending final liquidation of the tax liability of about N114,000,000 (One hundred and fourteen million naira) only is herby granted.
“That an order for interim forfeiture of property of Ewekoro Power Plant situate at 3rd floor, Topaz floor, All Seasons Plaza, 24 Lateef Jakande Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos State pending final liquidation of the Tax liability of N114,000,000 (One hundred and fourteen million naira) only is hereby granted.”