A total of eight hotels, a popular leisure spot and a private primary school have been sealed in Anambra State as a result of non-payment of tax totalling N2.9 million for the 2012 – 2013 fiscal year.

The sealed hotels include Hatfield (formerly known as Queen’s Suite), Smithland Hotel, Cheleku Hotels, Malikwu Suites, Century Guest House, Swiss Cottage, De Pride Lodge, and Nicon Lodge.

Also sealed off are Lynette Primary School, Awka, and one of the biggest hang outs in the capital city of Awka known as Be Joy Centre Point Leisure.

The exercise, which took place yesterday, brings the total number of sealed buildings in the state by the Anambra State Property and Land Use Charge (APLUC) in the past two months to 36.

It would be recalled that a fortnight ago, APLUC sealed nine residential buildings in the commercial city of Onitsha following the owners’ refusal to pay stipulated taxes.

Speaking with jourfnalists yesterday after the exercise, head of APLUC’s human resources and administration, Mrs. Chinenye Okafor, said it was part of the Willie Obiano administration’s resolve to boost the state’s revenue.

According to her, the enforcement was sequel to various court judgments obtained by APLUC, as well as the implementation of the state’s Land Use Charge Law 2010.

“The consequence of such default is that the owners/occupiers shall have the property sealed and liable for receivership and or to a term of imprisonment for a period of three months or both until all outstanding charges, penalties and administration charges due are paid,” Okafor said.

She stressed that the defaulters were duly served with writ of summons and hearing notices in 2013, regretting that they refused to appear in court until APLUC got judgments against them to seal their buildings.

She further said that the state government gave 75 per cent discount on all buildings to enable owners pay up their charges and wondered why people have refused to meet their civil obligations to the state.

Okafor insisted that Anambra has the lowest property rate in the country adding that 520 more suits were still pending in various courts across the state.

The APLUC boss appealed to the building owners to pay up or risk the closure of their buildings and their business outfits.

Update news