3 FAAN Officials Remanded In Prison Custody

JETHRO IBILEKE/Benin

Three officials of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria were today remanded in prison by a Benin City High Court.

Their remand followed inability of the officials to meet their bail conditions.

The three accused persons, Ayodele Sunday, Adeboye, O.F. and Aliu Isimape, all male, were arrainged on a six-count charge of assault on officials of Edo State Board of Internal Revenue; obstructing revenue officials from enforcing their duties of enforcing payment of due taxes and refusing revenue officials to give effect to a detraining order by a Benin High Court.

The defendants were also alleged to have destroyed chains and padlocks used by the revenue officials to distrain the FAAN Administrative Office.

Mr. Ayodele Sunday, the Benin City airport Manager, was alleged to have failed to remit the sum of N17, 473, 876:25K, being the amount deducted as PAYE taxes from salaries of staff punishable under section 55, 48 & 49 of Edo State Revenue Administration Law, 2012.

The three defendants all pleaded not liable to the six-count charge against them.

Counsel to the defendants Emmanuel Akhigbe Esq., prayed the Court to grant all defendants bail, since they came to court on their own and would be ready to stand trial.

But the prosecuting Counsel, Augustin Aleghe Aliyu, SAN, raised objection on the grounds that there was no formal bail application for the defendants.

Justice J.I. Acha, however granted the defendants bail and adjourned the case till 25 and 26 September, 2013 for full trial.

The face-off between the FAAN officials and the Edo State Board of Internal Revenue led to the closure of Benin Aiport last month.