Abia lawyer condemn demand for repeat payment of 2016 income tax

 By Ijendu Iheaka

February 3, 2017

The immediate past Commissioner for Lands and Survey in Anambra State, Chief John Okoli-Akrika has condemned the demand for 2016 income tax from Abia state government from him.
 

Okoli-Akrika disclosed this to our reporter at the Chief Magistrate Court premises in Aba South Local government area where he appeared on behalf of a client.

Okoli-Akrika, a practicing lawyer in Aba, Abia State said that the Attorney General of Abia, Chief Ume Kalu denied issuing him a fiat (an order) alleging that he had not paid 2016 income tax in Abia.

The lawyer who complained bitterly said that the business of his client which required a fiat from the Attorney-General’s office was aborted because the office said he must pay Abia 2016 tax.

“I have been paying my taxes in Abia state until five years ago when I moved to Anambra due to my appointment. That was when I started paying there. And after my tenure I returned to my practice in Aba.

“I applied for a fiat to enable me prosecute a matter on behalf of a client. I have paid my taxes up to December 31, 2016 in Anambra state.

“I also attached my tax clearance certificate to the application for fiat. But quite surprisingly, I was called on phone and told that the Attorney General of Abia directed that I should pay 2016 tax again in Abia state”, he said.

The lawyer noted that he was stationed in Anambra state for a long time due to the nature of his job which also warranted that he should pay his tax in Anambra.

Okoli-Akrika wondered how Abia state government should ask him to pay for a tax regime he had been cleared of by Anambra state government.

“What I am saying is that there is every need for the various governments in the states and the federal government to synergize on matters of taxation.

“There are thousands of Nigerians out there, especially the low income earners and the down-trodden who are subjected to multiple taxation for everything. 

“You leave one local government to another, you pay tax. It remains for one to be asked to pay tax for air.  So why subject the citizens to multiple and unwarranted taxation”.

Okoli-Akrika questioned the payment of infrastructure tax in Abia state and asked that such a tax should be abolished especially when the government is not accounting for its use.

Efforts to reach the Attorney-General of Abia State, Chief Umeh Kalu failed as text messages and calls made to his phone were not responded to.