AWKA – The Anambra State Government said it sealed off no fewer than 59 residential buildings and business premises since 2011, over default in payment of taxes by property owners.
Mr Sylvester Agbapu, Head of Enforcement Unit, Anambra Property and Land Use Charge (APLUC), stated this on Monday in Awka, during an enforcement exercise.
APLUC is the agency saddled with the responsibility of collecting property and land rates in the state.
Agbapu explained that the closure followed refusal of land, building and property owners to pay their bills after several warnings.
According to him, such closures were carried out on the orders of court, after securing judgments against the defaulters.
He said that more than 4,000 cases were currently pending in various courts across the state over tax default.
During Monday’s enforcement exercise in Awka, five buildings were sealed off over property rate default of N1 billion.
Grace Royal Hotel, Standford Hotel, a residential building at 348 Ziks Ave., Oando filling station on Enugu-Onitsha expressway and Santa Maria Lodge , were sealed-off by the agency .
“The closure followed the order of an Awka Magistrates’ Court, presided over by Magistrate Lauretta Okoye for failing to pay their APLUC bills from 2011 to 2013.
“We don’t derive joy in sealing-off the property, but you will discover that some people purposely and blatantly refused to pay their property rates.
“They even sometimes refuse to accept court hearing notices from bailiffs after giving them a grace of three months notice to make payment,” Agbapu explained.
He advised property owners to pay their bills, warning that the agency was more poised and determined to enforce the law which established it. (NAN)
