Workers of the Living Faith Church, popularly
known as the Winners Chapel allegedly attacked
tax officials of Ogun State at the premises of the
church in Ota.
According to sources, tax men had gone to the
Kingdom Heritage Nursery School, located within
the premises of the Church Worldwide, when they
were attacked.
The source said one of the tax men is still on
admission in the hospital, in Ilaro, while several
others were injured. Some of the tax men, were
even detained by security officials of the church,
until they were freed by the local divisional police
officer.
Speaking on the attack at a press briefing which
held at the State Government Press Centre, Oke
Mosan, Abeokuta, Friday afternoon, Chairman of
the agency, Mr Jide Odubanjo said that the
incident occurred when his men were on a routine
exercise of ensuring total compliance with the tax
laws of the state.
“Yesterday, an ugly incident occurred in the
premises of Kingdom Heritage Nursery School, a
commercial venture which is located within the
complex of Winners Chapel, Otta, Ogun State.
Officials of Ogun State Internal Revenue Service,
OGIRS were violently assaulted and later
unlawfully detained in the premises for a number
of hours. As a result of this incident,an officer of
the agency is currently hospitalised in Ilaro while
others with minor injuries have been treated and
discharged…,” he said.
Odubanjo further revealed that the policemen
attached to the agency were also manhandled by
those whom he referred to as, ‘overzealous
officials’ of the church.
According to him, several notices have been sent
to them to offset their tax debt which he stated
was below N2 million.
“What they owed is below two million naira. It is
from 2003 to 2010. We have sent several notices
to them.The first one was in 2010 followed by that
of 2011 and the last was in May 2013. Our men
were explaining to them when some personnel
including their legal officer and accountant came
out and in the course of discussion,our men were
beaten blue black and our equipment were
destroyed.
“We view this as the height of irresponsibility and
lawlessness for any person or group of persons to
assault government officials who are performing
their lawful duties. A formal complaint has been
lodged with the Police.The position of the State
government is that it will not tolerate any form of
violence against any of its officers or agents in the
lawful discharge of their duties,” he maintained.
The State Attorney-General and Commissioner
for Justice, Mrs Abimbola Akeredolu said the
charges that will be pressed against the attackers
will be based on the statement made to the police.
“Without prejudice to the fact on ground and with
the video evidence we have just watched,they
may likely be charged for false imprisonment and
assault,” Akeredolu stated.
known as the Winners Chapel allegedly attacked
tax officials of Ogun State at the premises of the
church in Ota.
According to sources, tax men had gone to the
Kingdom Heritage Nursery School, located within
the premises of the Church Worldwide, when they
were attacked.
The source said one of the tax men is still on
admission in the hospital, in Ilaro, while several
others were injured. Some of the tax men, were
even detained by security officials of the church,
until they were freed by the local divisional police
officer.
Speaking on the attack at a press briefing which
held at the State Government Press Centre, Oke
Mosan, Abeokuta, Friday afternoon, Chairman of
the agency, Mr Jide Odubanjo said that the
incident occurred when his men were on a routine
exercise of ensuring total compliance with the tax
laws of the state.
“Yesterday, an ugly incident occurred in the
premises of Kingdom Heritage Nursery School, a
commercial venture which is located within the
complex of Winners Chapel, Otta, Ogun State.
Officials of Ogun State Internal Revenue Service,
OGIRS were violently assaulted and later
unlawfully detained in the premises for a number
of hours. As a result of this incident,an officer of
the agency is currently hospitalised in Ilaro while
others with minor injuries have been treated and
discharged…,” he said.
Odubanjo further revealed that the policemen
attached to the agency were also manhandled by
those whom he referred to as, ‘overzealous
officials’ of the church.
According to him, several notices have been sent
to them to offset their tax debt which he stated
was below N2 million.
“What they owed is below two million naira. It is
from 2003 to 2010. We have sent several notices
to them.The first one was in 2010 followed by that
of 2011 and the last was in May 2013. Our men
were explaining to them when some personnel
including their legal officer and accountant came
out and in the course of discussion,our men were
beaten blue black and our equipment were
destroyed.
“We view this as the height of irresponsibility and
lawlessness for any person or group of persons to
assault government officials who are performing
their lawful duties. A formal complaint has been
lodged with the Police.The position of the State
government is that it will not tolerate any form of
violence against any of its officers or agents in the
lawful discharge of their duties,” he maintained.
The State Attorney-General and Commissioner
for Justice, Mrs Abimbola Akeredolu said the
charges that will be pressed against the attackers
will be based on the statement made to the police.
“Without prejudice to the fact on ground and with
the video evidence we have just watched,they
may likely be charged for false imprisonment and
assault,” Akeredolu stated.
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