Nigeria: Mobil Sued Over Tax Evasion

This Day (Lagos)

Akwa Ibom State government has instituted legal action against Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited and five of its executive directors over tax evasion.

Joined in the suit No. REU/2959/2006 were Mr Cyril Odu, Mr Udom Inoyo, Mr Isaac Komolafe, Mr Etta Amba and Mr Patrick Effiong, all Executive Directors of the oil major.

In the suit filed before a revenue court in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, and presided over by Magistrate Benet Ilalumo, Mobil was accused of withholding from the state government income tax from 1998 to 2003.

The offence, according to the charge, was punishable under Section 86(1) of the Personal Income Tax Act of 1993.

The executive directors of the oil company entrusted with the management of the tax affairs of the oil giant were alleged to have misled the plaintiff in the performance of its duties, thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 97 of the Personal Income Tax Act 1993.

Amongst other things, the defendants were alleged to have made incorrect returns with wrong information on the incomes of their workers from 1998 to 2003, thereby contravening Section 87 of the Act.