Ebonyi State Government has closed down one of the leading New Generation Commercial banks in the country, Guarantee Trust Bank(GTB), Abakaliki office, following their inability to remit their tax to the coffers of Ebonyi state government.
The bank had opened for their usual business activities when the taxforce from the State Board of Internal Revenue Service invaded the bank and ordered for the immediate closure of the bank.
Before sealing the bank the Task Force had ordered both staff of the bank and customers to vacate the bank premises.
Speaking with Everyday News, the leader of the team, Mr.Okoro Celestine who is the head of Integrated Revenue, Ebonyi State Board of Internal Revenue Service stated that they decided to seal the bank over their inability to respond to their demand notices to pay accumulated tax adding that the Board was acting on a court order against the bank.
He explained that several demand notices had been served to the bank from January 14th till date, but the were unable to clear the tax.
“The reason why we sealed the bank was that the bank has not been paying their taxes and levies which has accumulated. This is not the first time we are coming here, several demand notices have been served on them from January 14th, 2022 till date, and we have a procedure.
“We don’t just come and seal. A court order has been granted for us to come and seal it. First demand notice was given to them, a remind notice was also served on them but they refused to pay. We don’t have any other option, we are not going to fight them other than to do the needful by seeking court order to seal the bank”.
“We feel that it is very necessary for it to be sealed today. We are not going to unseal it until the bank complies. We didn’t start this journey today, it has lasted from January till date which is seven months”.
However, the leader of the taskforce team failed to reveal to Everyday News the amount of money owed as tax by the bank but stated that the money is over a hundred million naira.
All efforts made to get the reaction of the bank Manager proved abortive as he declined to speak on the matter. Ends.
