How Obinna Oriaku Lied Against Abia BIR and Otti's Government - Full Details Emerge

.... Abia BIR Explains Why Former Commissioner Was Charged 483,000 in Tax Assessment

The Abia State Government has debunked the allegations made by former Commissioner for Finance, Hon. Obinna Oriaku, describing his recent statement against the Abia State Board of Internal Revenue (BIR) as false, misleading, and politically motivated.

In a press release signed by Ferdinand Ekeoma, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, the government stated that Oriaku deliberately twisted facts to blackmail Governor Alex Otti's administration and mislead the public over his tax clearance issue.

Oriaku, in a statement titled "Alex Otti Administration and the Rot in Abia Revenue System: When Governance Becomes a Tool for Vendetta", accused the BIR of victimizing him during his attempt to obtain a tax clearance certificate. But according to verified government records, the ex-finance commissioner was treated with utmost respect - and the process that determined his tax rate was both lawful and transparent.

Government's Position - The Real Facts

According to the release, the government's circular clearly fixed 50,000 as the minimum tax for traders and 70,000 for professionals and politically exposed persons (PEPs). The Board, however, reserves the right to conduct further assessment to determine the accurate amount due.

When Mr. Oriaku was questioned about his income, he allegedly responded, "I am jobless," and later added that he was "selling some of my properties." When asked to state how much he earned from such sales, he refused to answer further questions.

The BIR then applied the standard "Best of Judgment" tax principle and assessed him at 483,000 - an amount determined by his economic profile and refusal to provide details of his earnings.

Ekeoma further disclosed that after being assessed in Abia, Oriaku ran to Enugu, where he met his former colleague, now serving as the BIR Chairman in that state. There, he allegedly pleaded for help, claiming he lacked funds for full payment and offered to pay 100,000, which was accepted as a gesture of goodwill.

"Hon. Oriaku knows that Enugu's tax rate is currently over three times higher than what Abia collects," the statement added. "He only went there to cut corners, not because Abia treated him unfairly."

The Abia government challenged Oriaku to publicly declare his 2024 income to prove that the 483,000 tax assessment was unjustified.

"If he publishes his income and it's confirmed that the government erred, we will apologise publicly and even pay the difference on his behalf," Ekeoma said. "But if not, he should apologise to Abians for deceiving the public."

Ekeoma stressed that Governor Otti's administration has no personal issues with Oriaku, urging him to stop dragging sensitive state institutions into unnecessary political controversies.

"The Abia government is focused on governance and development, not vendettas," he added. "Hon. Oriaku should act responsibly and pay his taxes like every other citizen benefiting from the dividends of the New Abia."