Lagos court remands tax official in prison for contempt

Magistrate A. T. Omoyele of an Igbosere Court, Lagos lsland on Tuesday remanded a Lagos State tax officer, Tawo Ajulo, in Ikoyi Prisons for contempt.
A News Agency of Nigeria correspondent covering the proceedings reports that sureties in a case involving a man, who allegedly stole 61 units of air conditioner worth N15 million, had brought a complaint to court that a tax officer asked for “outrageous sum” before he would issue tax clearance to them.
The sureties, one of who is Anabuike Emeka, told the court that the tax officer used a middleman to collect the sum of N120,000 out of N200,000, which Ajulo initially demanded.
The sureties said they paid the money in cash, but the tax officer demanded that the whole amount must be paid before tax clearance would be issued to them.
However, Ajulo denied collecting any money from the sureties.
One of the sureties showed the court his call log history, establishing that he had conversations with Ajulo.
The magistrate, however, asked Ajulo why tax should be paid in cash instead of through the banks.
Omoyele told him that it was improper for a tax officer to demand money from sureties.
Ajulo, however, became unruly and was chided by the magistrate for his improper conduct.
As the tax officer continued his ranting, Omoyele got infuriated and asked the Prosecutor, Corporal Cyriacus Osuji, to arrest him.
She, however, signed a remand warrant and Ajulo was immediately arrested and taken to Ikoyi Prisons.
NAN also reports that the sureties had wanted to stand for one Tunde Kareem, who was on March 23 docked over alleged theft of N15 million worth of air conditioners.
He pleaded not guilty and was granted N1 million bail with two sureties in like sum.
NAN.