LAGOS — Multichoice Nigeria Limited (MCN) has said the directives of the tax appeal tribunal (TAT) have been executed, noting that it has deposited into the FIRS account, an amount required by the law.
The company announced this on Thursday at the resumption of the tribunal hearing over the alleged N1.8 trillion tax evasion dispute.
TAT at the last hearing, had endorsed the FIRS submission and instructed Multichoice Nigeria Limited to deposit with the FIRS an amount equal to 50 percent of the assessment under the appeal plus a sum equal to 10 percent of the said deposit as a condition precedent for further hearing of the appeal.
And the directive had generated confusion among stakeholders because the FIRS had asked the company to pay 50 percent of the disputed sum (N900 billion) under assessment.
However, at the hearing, the counsel to MultiChoice Nigeria Limited said the company has complied with the payment of N8 billion — paid in two batches to the FIRS account as instructed by the tribunal on the provision of the FIRS Act.
“We have before you an affidavit of compliance. A sworn statement made under oath, first, on the 9th of Sept. Second, 22nd of September 2021,” MultiChoice told the tribunal.
An assessment of N1.8trn was levied on the appellant. Appellant case before your honour is that this amount is arbitrary. No science to it and respondent contrived the numbers. The reality of the appellant’s business is far from what the respondent fixes in its office.
“In respect of this dispute, N8 billion has been paid in the case pursuant to paragraph 15(7) of the FIRS Act. And N2bn in respect of VAT in another matter here before your honour
“We provided two options for the tribunal to work with. Either for 2010 as a preceding year for 2011 or 2019 because we want it to expedite actions. The N1.8trn burden is resting on our finances and our auditors will look at our books if we did not get it out quickly.
“We have displayed enough seriousness and either way tribunal chooses to look at it. Appellant has over complied with the directive.”
- Breaking: Ohanaeze President General, George Obiozor, confirmed dead - December 28, 2022
- US to support NDLEA on improved intelligence gathering capacity - December 27, 2022
- Why diversified HIV/AIDS prevention tools matter for women - December 26, 2022
