Ekiti State Government has shut down the premises of Ecobank Nigeria Limited over the failure of the management of the bank to submit all the documents relating to Withholding Tax charged on interest deposit accounts of their customers like Savings Account, Fixed/Term Deposits among others to the Ekiti State Board of Internal Revenue.
The explanation was given by the Special Adviser on Economic Matters to the Governor, Mr Folu Oguntoyinbo, during an interview on radio and television stations in Ado-Ekiti.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Idowu Adelusi, on Wednesday, quoted Oguntoyinbo as saying the action by the state government was in line with an order of a competent court of jurisdiction.
“The state government got an ex parte order signed by the state Chief Judge to shut down their business premises until all the required documents are submitted to the Ekiti State Board of Internal Revenue, EBIR,” he said.
Oguntoyinbo said all the commercial banks in the state were involved.
“Earlier, three bank business premises were sealed but have since been re opened because they have complied with the judgement of the court,” he added.
On how soon the premises would be reopened, Oguntoyinbo stated that as soon as the bank was able to make available the required documents and give an undertaking that they would pay any amount found against them upon audit, as the state government was flexible on the matter.
He added that the state government would always appreciate corporate bodies and individuals being alive to their civic responsibilities by paying their taxes, rates and levies on time and fully too.
