Follow Us on Google
From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
Abia State Government has through the Abia Internal Revenue Services (ABiRS) suspended the appointment of a revenue firm, Zubic Global Ventures, engaged as the sole emblem agent in Abia for the year 2022, over alleged breach of laid down regulations.
A statement by ABiRS stated that the firm, owned by Azubuike Ihuoma Erondu, was in February 23, 2021, engaged by it to print, sale and enforce consolidated vehicle emblems, ASPIMSS yearly assessments and other flying revenues for NURTW, RTEAN, NARTO AND ASMCSL in 2022.
The statement said ABiRS suspended the appointment of the firm as a revenue collector for the state as a result of flouting government laid down regulations.
“ABiRS, after thorough appraisal of quarterly performance of Zubics Global Ventures on subject appointment, is expressing displeasure in what it saw,” the agency stated.
The company was further accused, among others, of carrying on with the collections of unified emblems without adopting ABiRS e-ticket/e-emblems upload system.
“The company has violated all the e-emblems approved platforms, collected amount above approval given by ABiRS, and engaged enforcers without permission of ABiRS.”
The firm was equally accused of reverting to the hackneyed understanding with Abia State Passengers Integrated Manifest Scheme, ASPIMS, while his appointment with ABiRS, which covers the subject matter was still subsisting.
Government disclosed that the company generated less than N100 million in a year while the e-ticket system instituted by ABiRS in 2021, generated N1.1bn.
Government said the company’s action was an aberration and against the Joint Tax Board (JTB) guidelines and World Bank standards, the Abia State Tax (Codification and Consolidation) Law 2020.
