The Board of Internal Revenue (BIR), on Wednesday, sealed off a Chinese company, Hilong Oil Services and Engineering Company Limited, over alleged tax default of N109.5 million.

It was learnt that the company is providing service at oilfields operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company, had allegedly owed the state government for five years.

The BIR enforcement team accompanied by armed policemen and Civil Defence personnel sealed the premises of the firm located at Elebele, Ogbia Local Government Area.

Soldiers attached to the firm had denied access to the enforcement team until an official of the company came and held discussions with the BIR men and allowed them to carry out the operation.

In an interview after the operation, the Director of Compliance, BIR, Mr. Robert Lokoson, said the team was at the company to recover a tax debt of N109.5m owed the State Government by the company since 2013.

Lokoson said the operation was in pursuant of Section 104 of Personal Income Tax (Amendment) 2011 and an ex parte order granted by the High Court of Bayelsa State, in the Sagbama Judicial Division, holden at Yenagoa.

He said: “This operation is part of Bayelsa State Government’s efforts in improving Internally Generated Revenue in the state and pursuant to Section 104 of Personal Income Tax 2011.

“The Bayelsa State Board of Internal Revenue, having obtained the necessary court orders, hereby pasted the Warrant of Distrain on the property of Hilong Oil Services and Engineering Company Limited for a tax debt of N109.5m owed the Bayelsa State Government.

“The debt has been on since 2013 and we have written a series of letter to them to pay but no response from them.

“A few weeks back, we came here, though not with court orders, with the intention of having them to see reasons to come and comply, but no response. So, we have to take this last resort of getting court orders.

“Tax matter has laws binding it and as a law-abiding board, we have gone through the necessary processes to arrive at carrying out the sealing.”

Asked the next step, Lokoson said after 14 days, if no response came from the company, BIR would go back to court and institute a case against them.

He said the sealing of the company was to show the seriousness of the State Government in recovering the money, stressing that the government needed money in financing its projects.

According to him, “If a company is owing this much, we have to do everything possible to recover this money. It will go for one project or the other.

“This action will send a strong message to other companies that we are not joking. Companies have been taking things for granted in this state.

“Now, we want to enforce the law to the letter so that those other companies that are not complying will see reasons to comply.”