Enterprise Bank managers face commital action

For allegedly disobeying an Abia State High Court Order, the Managing Director of Enterprise Bank Ltd and other top officers of the bank may face committal proceedings soon as hinted by the Abia State Board of Internal Revenue (BIR).

BIR is waiting for the reaction of the Abia State High Court with regards to the alleged unsealing of the offices and premises of Enterprise Bank Ltd at Aba and Umuahia in defiance of court orders dated May 21, 2015.

The sealing of the bank’s offices/premises which was executed on Friday 22 May, 2015 by the Court Bailiff under the supervision of top officials of the BIR, which has Mr Udochukwu Ogbonna as the Executive Chairman, was sequel to the failure of the bank to remit to the state BIR the total sum N222,226,677 representing the bank’s due staff tax deductions to be remitted to the BIR in accordance with the state BIR Law No 7 of 2008.

According to the trial judge, Justice Onuoha Ogwe on Suit No ATM179/2014 between BIR (Claimant ) and Enterprise Bank Limited (Defendant), Enterprise Bank was duly served with the demand notice for the remittance of the sum which became due to the state BIR Service and the defendant did not make the remittance within the time limited by the demand notice.

“And it has been proved on oath that the withholding Tax audit report and demand notice have been duly served on the defendant aforesaid in accordance with the state BIR Law No 7 of 2008 and the remittance was not made and there was no appeal against the tax liability”, the judge held.

Addressing journalists last Wednesday on the forceful unsealing of the bank premises, Ogbonna expressed surprise and worry that the Bank had to disregard the court order by unsealing its closed offices in Aba and Umuahia and resumed business without recourse to the Court.