By Demola Akinyemi, Ilorin

The Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KWIRS) has said that the revenue service would not victimise or act in a particular way towards anyone based on their religion, ethnicity, or other personal social identity in the conduct of its services.

The revenue service in a press statement titled “Discriminatory Tax policies against Igbo Traders” made available to journalists in Ilorin on Saturday by its Head Corporate Affairs, Funmilola Oguntunbi, also denied an Online publication(not Vanguard) published on July 12, 2024 which it described as false, malicious, and inciting against the personality of the governor to the extent that the Igbo traders in the state capital are being discriminated against in the conduct of the services of KWIRS .

“We are tempted to believe that this false narrative was at the instance of some members of the Kwara State Igbo Traders Association (KWAITA), which has recently instituted a legal action against the Service on 12th July, 2024 on the same subject matter before the Kwara State High Court in suit KWS/308/24 – NWANKWO SYLVESTER & 90 ORS VS KWARA STATE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE & 2 ORS. This action of twisting the fact through a media publication is, therefore, in bad faith.”the statement said.

KWIRS also stated that the revenue service is stoutly against any discriminatory practices as it had,” adopted a non-discriminatory policy on prohibition of Associations on assessment and collection of personal income tax in compliance with relevant provisions of the federal law which is the Personal Income Tax Act, 2011 (as amended).”

The statement also said that even though Kwara State Igbo Traders Association (KWAITA) has taken the state government and KWIRS to court in this regard,the execution of court judgement earlier won by KWIRS was against Three Igbos and three Yorubas in the State capital.

“We have made these disclosures as a matter of probity to give the lie to the wicked claims that any specific individuals are being targeted.”noted the statement.

KWIRS stressed that,”The Service will not join issues with the Online publisher and cohort over issues that are already pending for adjudication before a court of competent jurisdiction as doing same will be Sub Judice.”

The statement also warned the Online ,” and those behind the unpatriotic publication to refrain from heating up the polity by subjecting matters already before a competent court to a court of public opinion where players sometimes intentionally choose which facts to state and which facts to suppress in the pursuit of their agenda. We urge the platform to refrain from interfering with the constitutional powers and functions of the Court.”

“Against this background, and as a reputable Agency that firmly believes in the principles of the rule of law and judicial process, we would not allow anyone to drag the Service’s hard-earned reputation in the mud “the statement concluded.