By: Bayero Ade
The Benue State government has sealed City Bay Park, owned by Rep. Asema Achado (APC/Gwer East/Gwer West), for failing to pay the required taxes.
Rep. Achado confirmed the sealing of his recreational park and event center during a press briefing in Makurdi, the state capital, on Thursday. He explained that the park was sealed on December 23, 2024, by government officials.
The lawmaker revealed that his business was charged N20,000 in taxes, along with an additional N219,000 for tax default. His microfinance bank, Benysta Microfinance Bank, was also sealed during the operation.
Achado clarified that the management of the park immediately paid the required N20,000 and the N219,000 default fee, as well as an additional N20,000 unsealing fee to the Benue Internal Revenue Service (BIRS), and received receipts for the payments.
However, despite the payments, the park was initially unsealed only to be resealed shortly after for unknown reasons.
“The operation on December 23 involved BIRS officials, the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment, and law enforcement agents. They presented demand notices from December 12 and 13, 2024, regarding business premises registration fees,” Achado explained.
He also pointed out that City Bay Park, being a government property, could be exempt from such fees, but the management made the payment to avoid conflict.
Achado criticized the government’s actions, describing the second sealing as excessive, with reports of tear gas being used, causing distress among customers, including children and the elderly.
“The sealing was carried out without proper authorization from a competent court, which I believe is necessary for such actions,” he added, calling it arbitrary and harsh.
In response, BIRS clarified that the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment led the operation, with BIRS acting only as a tax-collecting agency.
BIRS spokesperson Jacob Suswam stated that the ministry had issued the demand notices, conducted the tax assessment, and carried out the enforcement.
Attempts to contact the Commissioner for Industry, Trade, and Investment, Alumo Orpin, for further comment were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to calls or messages.
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