The Tax Appeal Tribunal, North Central Zone, sitting in Jos Thursday ordered the Jos International Breweries PLC and Gains Micro-Finance Bank Ltd to pay a total sum of N29.3 million to the Federal Inland Revenue Service.

Both companies, Jos International Breweries Plc (JIB) and Gains Micro-Finance Bank Ltd are to pay the stated sum having been found guilty of tax evasion by the tax tribunal.

Out of the total sum, Jos International Breweries Plc is to pay FIRS the sum of N26.1 million as company income tax owed by the company, while Gains Micro-Finance Bank Ltd is to pay N3.2 million as penalty and interest owed by the bank.

The Tribunal presided over by Hon. Abraham N. Yisa, who is also the Coordinating Chairman of all the Zonal Tax Appeal Tribunals in Nigeria passed this verdict at its sitting held at the Tribunal Premises at No. 13C, Wamba Road, GRA, Jos.

The FIRS had dragged the Companies before the Tribunal in 2013 having defaulted taxes remittance to FIRS.

The tribunal had in the course of the trial given judgement in the sum of N28.2 million with the issues of penalty and interest outstanding as parties sought time to explore out of Court settlement on the said figures.

Delivering the lead judgement, Hon. Yisa stated that in giving the judgment the Tribunal was invoking its powers under “Paragraph 15 (8) of the Fifth Schedule to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (Establishment) Act 2007.

The FIRS was represented by Nasiru Ahmad Esq with Talatu Aliyu (Miss) while Jos International Breweries was represented by N.N Adangu, with B. Haruna and A.G. Lawal.

count | 181

Tax tribunal ordered Jos Breweries, bank to pay FIRS N29.3 million