Revenue officials block Julius Berger yard, Dangote depot over alleged tenement debt

Revenue officials in Itu local government area of Akwa Ibom State on Wednesday blocked the entrance gate of Julius Berger Plc and Dangote Cement Depot in the state over their alleged non-payment of tenement rates and other levies for a period of two years.

The officials first stormed the Julius Berger premises at about 12:30pm, restricting all vehicular movements for more than three hours before proceeding to Dangote depot, a few metres away, where they also carried out similar action but for just 30 minutes.

The officials alleged that Julius Berger was yet to pay its tenements and levies, amounting to over N81 million while Dangote Cement Depot has an outstanding debt of over N53 million to remit to the council.

The Manager, Eggheads Tax Practitioners, consultants to the local government, Mr. Dominic Williams, who spoke with journalists shortly after the incident, regretted that the two companies despite demand notices sent to them had refused to pay to the local government.

He explained that the council went further to grant a waiver to them in 2020 due to the economic meltdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic to enable them pay, yet they remained adamant.

He said, “We are here at the instance of tax evasion committed by Julius Berger and Dangote Cement Depot. In 2020 because of COVID, the council in its wisdom granted them waivers but in 2021, there was a demand notice that was served on them.

“Before the demand notice was served the council employed the services of an Estate valuer, who was assisted by a Surveyor and they went round the whole place for valuation and assessment.

” Thereafter, we gave them a demand notice based on the assessed amount and besides this, there were other levies and fees that accrued to the council which was also assessed on them.

“We came here severally, we served demand notices and followed up with a reminder and they gave deaf ears. Based on this, the council chairman in his peaceful disposition reported the issue to the police commissioner who invited them for a brief but they refused to attend. The invitation was served twice but none of them turned off.

“It is based on this that we decided to come here today, to tell the whole world that Julius Berger, Dangote Cement Depot, have been evading taxes and levies in Akwa Ibom State”

Our correspondent reports that no Julius Berger representative was on hand to address the revenue officials, except the security officials who hid their identities because they were not authorized to speak.

The development resulted in a clash between the officials and the security officers as they hauled abusive insults on each other.

At the premises of Dangote Depot, however, the Inventory Officer, who identified himself as Abubakar Sani, pleaded with the revenue officials to wait for the Depot manager whom he said had gone out for an official engagement.

Sani claimed he was not aware that the revenue officers have been coming to the company with no results achieved.

“I have always been here and if you have been coming here as you have said there is no way the security will not allow you into the yard. I don’t know anything pertaining to what you are saying because the person who is supposed to attend to you is not here, you can come back to see him” Sani pleaded.