A limited liability company, Solpia Nigeria Limited, and four of its top officials – Akeem Idowu, Chikwendu Emeka, Son Chun Gil and Jung Wookshin – have been arraigned before a Federal High Court in Lagos by Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, for allegedly obstructing the agency’s officials in performance of their duties.
In a three count criminal charge filed before the court by Legal, Advisory and Litigation Department of FIRS, it was alleged that Akeem Idowu (M), Chikwendu Emeka (M), Son Chun Gil (M), Solpia Nigeria Limited and Jung Wookshin (M) on or about the 29th of August 2022, at No 46, lju Road, in Lagos, Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did obstruct Idogo Adah, Gbolagade Dada, Mustapha Ismail, Akingbade Olatunji and Dayok Klingri, authorised officers of the Federal Inland Revenue Service in the performance of their official duties by barricading and detaining them in their premises and molested and hindered the said officers from carrying out their lawful functions and by so doing committed an offence contrary to Section 41(a) of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (Establishment) Act of 2007 and punishable under Section 41(d) of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (Establishment) Act 2007.
Solpia Nigeria Limited and its four defendants’ staff same time, date and place were also alleged to have impeded access to their books and documents for the purpose of tax investigation by the Federal Inland Revenue Service officials by impeding them from carrying a search of their premises.
The offences alleged to have been committed by the defendants are contrary to sections 41(a) and (b) of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (Establishment) Act and punishable under section 41(d) of the Federal Inland Revenue Service Establishment Act of 2007.
The Company and its co-defendants staff who pleaded not guilty are currently on bail granted them by the court.
Meanwhile, the presiding Judge, Nicholas Oweibo, has adjourned till 16th of November 2022 for commencement of trial of the defendants.