‘You Want To Reap Over 100%,’ Iyabo Ojo Cries Out As LIRS Gives Her 7 Days To Pay N18m Tax Bill Or Go To Jail

Nollywood actress and entrepreneur, Iyabo Ojo has reacted to the Lagos State Government and the governor of the state, Babajide Sanwo-Olu over an alleged ₦18 million tax request.

 

According to the Lagos government, Iyabo Ojo has a tax liability of N7,376,000.00 for the year 2022 and an outstanding liability of N11,264,092 for 2021 income year.

 

The actress was given a 7-day ultimatum to pay up of face consequences.

 

Iyabo, in an Instagram post on Monday, shared documents of a personal income tax letter and expressed her frustration with the exorbitant amount demanded by the government.

 

The actress directed her anger to Sanwo-Olu and the Lagos State government, demanding an explanation for the hefty tax bill.

 

She questioned the basis for such high personal income taxes and criticised the lack of transparency in the calculation process.

 

Responding to the letter, Iyabo Ojo faulted the process at which the tax amount was reached.

 

The actress hinted that she will not pay and she is ready to face arrest.

 

The actress referred to a previous encounter where she complied with the government’s request to explain her earnings and declare her income but received no response.

 

She stated, “Last time, you people asked me to come to your office, I came, you asked me to explain & declare what I earn, which I did with my tax consultant, but noooooooooooooo you did not respond to my letter, bcos you want me to pay you an outrageous amount that I do not have.

 

Feeling overwhelmed by the mounting financial burden imposed on her, the mother of two raised concerns about the government’s insensitivity to the challenges faced by individuals and businesses.

 

She questioned the contributions of the government to her life, stating, “What have you people ever done for me as a government? NOTHING!!! I have single-handedly raised my kids & so many others, plus myself without a single penny from the government.”

 

This incident is not the first time Ojo has publicly voiced her grievances regarding taxation in Lagos State.

 

In 2019, she shared tax papers on Instagram, lamenting the excessive taxation that was jeopardising her business.

She expressed her struggle to make a profit amid various financial obligations, including rent, salaries, maintenance, and multiple taxes imposed by the local and state governments.

 

As of now, there has been no official response from Governor Sanwo-Olu or the Lagos State government regarding Ojo’s allegations and demands for an explanation.

 

Below are the words of Iyabo Ojo in response to the letter from Lagos government.

 

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 7 days to pay up, lol. 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 noooooooooooooo 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 theif 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 deny 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 sworn. 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 faith… what I do not have I can not give. I have no FEAR