Anambra Govt seals up 10 more buildings over non-payment of property charges The Anambra Government on Monday sealed up 10 more buildings in Awka, barely two weeks after a school and nine residential buildings were sealed up in Onitsha for refusing to pay property charges. This brings to 36, the total number of buildings sealed up in the state by the Anambra State Property and Land Use Charge (APLUC). Mrs Chinenye Okafor, the Head of Human Resources and Administration/Media, told newsmen after the exercise that it was part of government’s activities to boost the state’s revenue base. She said that the enforcement was sequel to various Magistrate Court judgments delivered by Mrs Lauretta Okoye Awka. “The consequence of such default is that the owners/occupiers shall have the property sealed and liable for receivership and or to a term of imprisonment of a period of three months or both until all outstanding charges, penalties and administration charges due are paid.” She said that the affected buildings included eight hotels, an eatery and a primary school all of which owed a total sum of about N2.9 million between 2012 and 2013. The sealed hotels are Hatfield (former Queen Suite), Century Guest House, De Pride Lodge, Malikwu Suites, Smithland, Chelekwu, Swiss Cottage and Nicon Lodge. Also affected were Lynette Prime School, located at Agu-Awka and an eatery, Be Joy Centre Point, located at the popular Arroma junction. “The defaulters were served with writ of summons and hearing notices in 2013, yet they did not appear in court until we got judgments against them to seal their buildings. “The state government gave a 75 per cent discount on all buildings to enable people to pay up their charges,” adding that Anambra has the lowest property rate in the country. Okafor said that 520 other suits were pending in various courts across the state and appealed to the people of the state to pay up their bills or risk closure of their buildings
Posted on: Mon, 14 Jul 2014 13:49:15 +0000
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