Popular Yoruba Nollywood actress, Iyabo Ojo, has tackled the Lagos State Government over a tax levy of ₦18,640,092 she got from the Lagos Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) on Monday with seven days ultimatum.
While sharing pictures of the personal income tax signed on the letterhead of the LIRS in a now-deleted post on her verified Instagram handle, Ojo said she would not pay and was ready to be arrested because she didn’t understand how she accrued so much in taxes.
But according to the Lagos government, she owes ₦7,376,000.00 in taxes for the year 2022 and ₦11,264,092 in back taxes for the 2021 tax year.
The controversial actress, however, criticised the method used to determine the tax liability.
She was quoted as saying: “Governor Jide Sanwo-Olu please, how do you people come up with these outrageous personal income taxes you send on a daily basis?
“After paying for different types of taxes for one’s businesses, house and all, you still come up with all this huge amount and give me seven days to pay up. Last time, you people asked me to come to your office, I came, you asked me to explain and declare what I earn, which I did with my tax consultant, but no you did not respond to my letter, because you want me to pay you an outrageous amount that I do not have, make i go thief ni? I ask again, “How do you people come up with such outrageous bills?
“I don’t know how much you think I get paid. Hence, your team will come up with this conclusion.
“What have you people ever done for me as a government? NOTHING!!! I have single-handedly raised my kids and so many others, plus myself without a single penny from the government. Yet you feel so entitled to reaping over 100% from where you did not sow.
“I have worked, and I’m still working tirelessly to survive in this country without the support of the government, but yet you just sit in your office and come up with different outrageous bills. Nothing is working right in this country, but yet you feel the need to take from where you have not sown. Since you guys insist, You can gladly come and close down my business, arrest me, jail me, or kill me for all I care, we all will die one day and I will never be afraid of what will eventually be everyone’s fate. What I do not have, I cannot give. I have no FEAR.”
It is not the first time that 45-year-old Ojo would be in conflict with the Lagos State Government. In September 2019, she shed tears on social media while complaining over tax liabilities slammed on her by LIRS. The matter was eventually resolved after she visited the tax office in company with her consultant.
The actress openly campaigned against the ruling All Progressives Congress and its candidate in Lagos, Governor Sanwoolu in the last general elections.
She pitched her tent with the candidates of the Labour Party instead, fueling rumours that her current ordeal might be politically-motivated.
