Reps direct coy to seek for reinbursement of tax liabilities from BPE

By Femi Ogunshola

The House of Representatives has directed the Nigerdock Plc Ltd. to seek reinbursement of 341 tax liabilities and litigation cost from the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE).
Rep. Ibrahim Misau, the chairman, House Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation said this at a meeting of stakeholders on Nigerdock Ltd Transaction, the BPE and management of Polaris Bank in Abuja on Tuesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that BPE, Nigerdock and Polaris Bank were enmeshed in post privatisation crisis over pre privatisation liabilities that were alleged not to have been disclosed before the actual privatisation.
BPE had claimed ignorance of the existing liabilities by legacy company, Nigerdock, which led to a legal tussle between the duo and currently before the Appeal court.

The committee however, said its role was to present an integrity platform that could attract investors, adding that BPE and Nigerdock should work together to recover all missing title documents
The committee also said that Nigerdock should write to BPE on delisting issue, while BPE should begin the process of delisting Nigerdock.

Misau said the committe’s job was to find amicable solution so that BPE and stakeholders would be able to continue to operate their businesses unhindered as a result of none resolution of the issues some of which were in court without prejudice.

According to him, oversight of all matters relating to the privatisation and commercialisation of Government enterprises and institutions in which government has Investments

NAN report that representative of BPE Toibudeen Oduniyi, Director Post Transition Management was at the meeting to represent its Director General, Mr Alex Okoh
He said that contrary to claims by the committee the BPE was yet to be given any information on the issue of claim and settlement.

(NAN)