By YUSUF IDEGU, Jos –
The tax appeal tribunal, North East zone sitting in Bauchi, Bauchi state is battling to resolve tax disputes worth over N3 billion.
The disputes involved ten various organisations majority of whom are banking industries and hospitality industries.
During the sitting of the court, chairman of the tribunal, Prof. Bagoni Bukar mentioned that the ten cases before the tribunal came from all the states within the North East zone including Gombe, Adamawa, Bauchi, Taraba, Yobe and Borno states respectively.
The chairman stated that all the cases revolved round disputes from unresolved tax liabilities between the Internal Revenue services, federal inland revenue services and tax payers who are mostly corporate organisations.
The tax sum in dispute in the ten cases before the tribunal amounts to over N3 billion.
In the case between Access bank Plc and Gombe state board of internal revenue, parties opted for out of court settlement, a request that was granted by the tribunal.
In the case between Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) and Kirfi Micro-finance bank limited, the appellant informed the Tribunal that they were not able to serve the respondent as they could not trace any of the directors or officer of the respondent. In the circumstances, they applied for yet another date to enable them effect the service.
With respect to First bank of Nigeria and Taraba state internal revenue, the respondent/applicant sought for leave to amend his notice of reply and to also file additional deposition in the main appeal. The Tribunal granted all his prayers and ordered him to file both amended notice of reply and additional deposition within 7 days from the date of the order.
That of Taraba state board of internal revenue and First Bank of Nigeria limited, the matter did not proceed because the Appellant informed the Tribunal that the Respondent’s Amended Notice of Reply raised issues for a further reply and thus requested for an adjournment to file an amended reply to the Respondent’s amended notice of reply.
In Federal Inland Revenue Services and Faria Suites Limited, Bauchi hotels limited, Destination Bauchi Hotels and Resort Limited, Eagle Sino Nigeria Limited, which were all listed for hearing could not proceed as the parties informed the Tribunal of their intention to settle the matter amicably.
The Appellant’s Counsel informed the Tribunal that the Respondents had written letters requesting for amicable settlement and the letters had been sent to Legal Department of the FIRS and they were awaiting approval to proceed with the settlement. In view of the development, he applied for an adjournment. They therefore, applied for a date to report settlement.
While adjourning the court, chairman of the tribunal, Prof Bukar stated that since parties to most of the cases have chosen the option of amicable resolution of disputes, the court would allow enough time for them to reach agreement before the next sitting of the court. He assured parties that the court will communicate the date of next sitting to them through their respective counsels.
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