The Kwara Internal Revenue Service (KW-IRS) has countered allegations of targeting and victimising Igbo business owners in the state for non-compliance with tax laws.
News About Nigeria reports that the agency’s response comes after a recent online publication by the ‘International Centre for Investigative Reporting’, which KW-IRS claims aimed to incite ethnic tensions and garner public sympathy through misinformation.
KW-IRS claimed that the publication was entirely unfounded and intended to manipulate public opinion.
The agency stated that the false narrative may have been instigated by some members of the Kwara State Igbo Traders Association (KWAITA), who have recently initiated legal action against KW-IRS on the same subject matter before the Kwara State High Court.
In response to the allegations, KW-IRS clarified that the governor of Kwara State never directed the agency to victimise or discriminate against anyone based on their religion, ethnicity, or personal social identity.
The agency emphasised that the execution of tax judgements against traders in the state was non-discriminatory, with six judgement debtors/taxpayers affected, comprising three Igbo traders and three Yoruba traders.
KW-IRS maintained that its policy on the assessment and collection of personal income tax is non-discriminatory, in compliance with federal law, specifically Personal Income Tax Act, 2011 (as amended).
The agency refused to engage in a public debate with the publisher and its associates on issues already before a court of competent jurisdiction, citing the principles of the rule of law and judicial process.
KW-IRS advised the ‘International Centre for Investigative Reporting’ and those behind the publication to refrain from heating up the polity by subjecting matters already before a competent court to a court of public opinion.
The agency urged the platform to respect the constitutional powers and functions of the Court and avoid interfering with ongoing legal proceedings.
