The Abia State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Dr.<\/p>\n
Okezie Ikpeazu has debunked rumours making the rounds that he is having
\nissues with tax payment, describing the report as false and the handiwork
\nof his detractors, who are afraid of his pedigree.<\/p>\n
The PDP governorship candidate who addressed journalists at his campaign
\noffice in Umuahia, said that having been in public office in the past 12
\nyears where he held various appointments with the Government of Abia
\nState, said that payment of tax for him is not a choice, but a compulsory,
\nsince it was deducted at source through the Pay As You Earn system (PAYE)
\nbefore his salary gets to him.<\/p>\n
His words: “Let me use this opportunity to debunk the false publications
\ncirculating in some section of the media that I have issue with my tax.
\nThere is nothing like that. In fact such rumor has exposed those behind as
\npeople who are ignorant of the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax system and have
\nrefused to be educated on the issue.<\/p>\n
“Since 2002 when I left Enugu State University of Science and Technology,
\nwhere I was Head, Department of Biochemistry, I have held different
\npolitical appointment with the Abia State Government. As an appointee of
\ngovernment, payment of tax is not a choice to me, but a compulsory. It is
\nsomething I must do, whether I like it or not, because the government
\ndeducts all deductibles through the PAYE system before my salary comes to
\nme at the end of ever month. So how I can then be accused of having issue
\nwith payment of tax?”<\/p>\n
Dr. Ikpeazu also explained that one of those he defeated at the PDP
\nprimaries, Mr. Friday Nwosu, sponsored three persons who filed imported
\nthe tax papers of one Chief Okezie Ikpeazu, a businessman also from
\nObingwa who bears the same name with him and went to a Federal High Court
\nin Abuja, thinking that he was the one involved.<\/p>\n
According to him, the plaintiffs lost the case in court, with a N100,000
\nfine that was awarded to him. Ikpeazu stressed that he has no business
\ngoing to any tax office to negotiate, adding that those peddling the
\nrumour are making mockery of themselves as the tax matter is a non issue.<\/p>\n
He said that those spearheading the rumour are doing so because they see
\nhim as a threat and pointed out that his vision for the state include
\nlooking for alternative ways of funding projects as well as enhancing the
\ninternally generated revenue base of the state.<\/p>\n
According to him, he is lucky to be enjoying the support of the Governor
\nof the state, Chief Theodore Orji and major stakeholders in the state and
\nstated his commitment to consolidate on the achievements of the Governor.<\/p>\n
Dr. Ikpeazu maintained that what should occupy the minds of people at this
\npoint is not tax but how to move the state higher.<\/p>\n
In his speech, a member of the legal team of the Okezuo Abia campaign
\norganization, Barr. Teddy Eruba, who represented Dr. Ikpeazu in court over
\nthe issue, disclosed that Dr. Ikpeazu does not have any tax issues that
\nwill disqualify him from running for the governorship position, saying
\nthat it is infantile for any person to consider tax default as one of the
\nconditions likely to disqualify Dr. Ikpeazu or any candidate from running
\nfor governorship position.<\/p>\n
In a related development, the President of Institute of Chartered
\nAccountants of Nigeria (ICAN) Mr. Chidi Ajaegbu, who is an expert in tax
\nissues, has also said that Dr. Ikpeazu has a current tax clearance
\ncertificate which expires 31st December 2014.<\/p>\n
According to him, the tax certificate contains his tax history for the
\npast three (3) years covering 2011, 2012 and 2013 year of assessments.<\/p>\n
His words: “Going by section 3 subsection b of the Personal Income Tax
\n(Amendment) Act 2011, tax is to be collected on all income received by a
\ntax payer from employment, investments, business and other sources of
\nincome subject to consolidated relieves, statutory deductions such as
\nNational Housing fund, Pension, National social insurance trust fund,
\nNational Health Insurance Scheme granted by the Act and non income earning
\nreceipts by the tax payer.<\/p>\n
“It is believed that the Tax payer sole income is from employment and such
\nemployment incomes were fully disclosed. The Employment income includes
\nBasic salary and all other allowances.<\/p>\n
“Bank statements, payslips and employment letter are documents to prove
\nthe completeness of the income.<\/p>\n
“Employers operating Pay as you Earn PAYE are Agents of the State Internal
\nRevenue Service, they deduct taxes from the remunerations of employees and
\nremit same on their behalf.<\/p>\n
“It is believed that Abia State passenger Integrated management and safety
\nScheme operated a PAYE and the PAYE was deducted and remitted from the
\nemoluments of Dr Okezie Ikpeazu who then was a General Manager.<\/p>\n
“Section 20 of the amendment Act stipulates that tax returns of a year of
\nassessment must be done within 30days of the following year unlike the
\nprincipal Act which required returns to be filed within 90days of the
\nfollowing year.<\/p>\n
“The PAYE receipts showed that PAYE were remitted within the stipulated
\ntime of the law.”<\/p>\n
It will be recalled that Justice Abdu Kafarati of the Federal High Court
\nAbuja struck out suit no: FHC\/ABJ\/CS\/94\/2014 filed by the following: Hon.
\nDr. Bernad O. Orji, Barr. Ugochukwu Ndubuka and Mr. Chidi Nwosu, who are
\ncronies of Mr. Friday Nwosu.<\/p>\n
Justice Kafarati in his ruling said: “plaintiff suit struck out same
\nhaving been discontinued. However, I awarded N100,000 cost to the 3rd
\ndefendant (Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu) against the plaintiff.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Abia State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has debunked rumours making the rounds that he is having issues with tax payment, describing the report as…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":34622,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-34621","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n