By Ani Bassey, Calabar
The Chairman of the Cross River State Anti Tax Agency, Bishop Emmah Gospel Isong says the agency has confronted Thousands of Illegal tax Activities in the state.
In addition to this, about 40 persons have been arrested and are awaiting prosecution by the state government.
Bishop Isong made this known in Calabar during the one-year anniversary/stakeholders workshop organized by the agency.
He said the agency has made modest achievements in its one year of existence and has succeeded in creating awareness about the pandemic of illegal taxes in the state.
“We have confronted thousands of illegal tax activities in the state.
“With very swift operations with joint security forces, we have made not less than forty arrests. Because the judiciary is on strike the suspects are pending arraignment.
“We hope this will serve as a strong deterrent to those who are still perpetuating this Shylock, oppressive and anti-Ayade activity”, he said.
He listed about 10 other achievements of the agency within the past twelve months which includes encouraging small and medium scale businesses by taking the tax burden off them, creating the Anti-Tax Brigade, and appointing volunteer Marshalls to undertake enforcement in conjunction with other security agencies.
Others are working with the state judiciary to set up special courts to try offenders as well as retaining legal experts to institute civil actions against defaulting tax consultants.
Also speaking, Secretary of the Agency, Rev. fr. Julius Ada said the philosophy behind the creation of the agency is to build a better future for the people of the state.
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He said the agency is working on strategic plans that will help fuel the state’s economy and their target is to achieve zero taxation in food production by the end of the year.
On his part, Williams Anwan the legal Adviser of the Agency said 3 magistrates have been assigned to the agency by the state government.
He said illegal taxation is an economic crime but the agency will go for noncustodial sentencing and pastors/religious leaders will help reorientate the convicts.
He said some of the convicts will also be deployed to farms where they will work so that the energy they used to collect illegal taxes can be deployed to agriculture.
