In an effort to drive revenue and block leakages, the Ogun state Internal Revenue Service (OGIRS) has sought the support of the State Judiciary on speedy hearing of revenue related cases, use of Revenue Court during tax enforcement exercise and inclusion of Tax Clearance Certificate (TCC) from Sureties as part of requirements for court bail .

The Executive Chairman of OGIRS, Mr Anthony Olaleye stated this during a courtesy visit to the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu at the Judiciary’s complex in Abeokuta.

The Chairman said, support from the Judiciary in the area of using revenue mobile court during tax enforcement exercise would help deepen the agency’s tax net thereby increasing revenue that would be used in providing developmental projects.

Olaleye reiterated the agency’s determination to ensure that, residents pay appropriate taxes in an efficient and transparent manner adding that demanding for a TCC signed by the Chairman from surety during bail process would be more authentic than tax receipts that are prone to forgery.

“We want to ensure that every resident of the state pays appropriate taxes, we don’t want anybody to be under tax and we want it done in a transparent manner.

“We will need the support of the Chief Judge and her team that any surety for bail should provide a Tax Clearance Certificate (TCC) or a Clearance letter from the state Internal Revenue Service signed by the Chairman, instead of tax receipts that can be forged, these are revenue leakages” ,he said.

The Chief Judge, represented by the Deputy Chief Registrar I Legal, Justice Martins Akinyemi pledged the readiness of the state Judiciary to support the efforts of OGIRS in its drive towards increasing IGR as nothing could be achieved by government without revenue.

He disclosed further that, efforts were on to establish revenue courts in Ijebu-Ode, Ifo, Mowe, Ota and Agbara to hasten speedy hearing of revenue cases in the state.