By Francis Ezediuno
To the surprise of lovers and guests of some hospitality destinations in Osogbo and other towns in the state, the Osun Internal Revenue Service has locked shut down business operations in some hotels and restaurants for tax evasion and default in the payment of other financial commitments.
According to the Chairman of the agency, Mr. Bicci Alli, before the action to enforce the closure of these hospitality destinations a notice of intent had already been served to the defaulting organizations through a reputable courier company and also a reminder had been sent to them two weeks before the agency swung into action against the defaulters.
He also revealed that the action was taken against those organisations which defaulted in the payment of their 2015/2016 levies and dues owed the state.
“Notices was sent to these organisations and a 7-day reminder was done as a follow-up. In compliance, some of them paid before the 7-day notice expired while some did not and sincerely the notice was due two weeks ago.”.
“Some of them went to court in order to obtain restraining orders but in the exercise, we carried out today, we followed due process to the lettering”.
He added that the closure exercise was simultaneously carried out on businesses in Osogbo, Ile-Ife, Ilesa, Iwo and Ikirun, the 5 zones of the state.
The hotels which were affected by the closure were categorised into A, B, C, and D and they included, Hotel Baffou, Agunbelewo, Brymor Hotel, Okinni, Omo Soorun Hotel, Agunbelewo, Royal Park Hotel, Iloko-Jesa, Hotel Deals Legacy, Agunbelewo, Timsed Hotel, Ijebu-Jesa and Finger Licking Restaurant, Osogbo among others.
