The Tax Appeal Tribunal on Wednesday in Abuja frowned at the disposition of Oando Plc in the N61.52 million tax dispute appeal against the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
The company had sued the FIRS before the tribunal for refusing to amend its tax assessment of N61.52 million for 2004.
The amount is made up of N54.64 million Corporate Income Tax (CIT) and education tax of N6,88 million.
Mr Nnamdi Ibegbu (SAN), the acting Chairman of the tribunal, expressed displeasure with the delay tactics employed by the appellant in the resolution of the case.
Ibegbu said the matter was initially adjourned for the defence to open their case, adding that counsel to the appellant, Mr Audu Ibrahim, had written to the tribunal that he was appearing before a Federal High Court.
He said following the development, the case was again adjourned to another date.
At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, Ibrahim told the tribunal that Oando Plc and FIRS had exchanged letters and that both parties had fixed Dec. 3 to settle the matter out of court.
The tribunal, in an attempt to confirm the claim of the appellant, asked the counsel to FIRS, Mr Bright Igbinosa, if there was any letter to that effect, to which Igbinosa answered in the affirmative.
The acting chairman, who was displeased with the development, said it was not just about sending letters, stating that the case had dragged for more than six months at the instance of the appellant.
Ibegbu said the tribunal was not like any other court where cases dragged on for too long.
“This tribunal frowns at the delay in settling this matter which was last heard on the 7th day of June 2012,’’ he said.
He adjourned the matter to Jan. 8, 2013 to allow both parties conclude the settlement.
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