According to the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KWIRS), in the course of providing its services, the revenue service will not victimise or behave in a particular manner towards anyone based on their religion, ethnicity, or other social identity.
In a press release titled “Discriminatory Tax policies against Igbo Traders,” which was provided to journalists in Ilorin on Saturday by Funmilola Oguntunbi, Head of Corporate Affairs, the revenue service also refuted an online publication that was published on July 12, 2024, asserting that it was false, malicious, and inciting against the governor’s persona to the extent that Igbo traders in the state capital are experiencing discrimination in the way that KWIRS services are provided.
“We are tempted to believe that this false narrative was at the instance of some members of the Kwara State Igbo Traders Association (KWAITA), which has recently instituted a legal action against the Service on 12th July, 2024 on the same subject matter before the Kwara State High Court in suit KWS/308/24 – NWANKWO SYLVESTER & 90 ORS VS KWARA STATE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE & 2 ORS. This action of twisting the fact through a media publication is, therefore, in bad faith.”the statement read.
According to KWIRS, the revenue service has “adopted a non-discriminatory policy on prohibition of Associations on assessment and collection of personal income tax in compliance with relevant provisions of the federal law, which is the Personal Income Tax Act, 2011 (as amended)” and is vehemently opposed to any discriminatory practices.
The statement further stated that although the Kwara State Igbo Traders Association (KWAITA) has sued the state government and KWIRS in this regard, KWIRS was able to win a previous court judgement against three Igbos and three Yorubas in the state capital.
“We have made these disclosures as a matter of probity to give the lie to the wicked claims that any specific individuals are being targeted.”
KWIRS stressed that,”The Service will not join issues with the Online publisher and cohort over issues that are already pending for adjudication before a court of competent jurisdiction as doing same will be Sub Judice.”
In addition, the statement cautioned the Online and its sponsors not to interfere with the constitutional rights and functions of the Court by “urging the platform to refrain from interfering with the constitutional powers and functions of the Court and from heating up the polity by subjecting matters already before a competent court to a court of public opinion where players sometimes intentionally choose which facts to state and which facts to suppress in the pursuit of their agenda.”
“Against this background, and as a reputable Agency that firmly believes in the principles of the rule of law and judicial process, we would not allow anyone to drag the Service’s hard-earned reputation in the mud “the statement concluded.
