Dr. Samuel Maduka Onyishi, the Chief Executive Officer of Peace Mass Transit, has recounted how he allegedly faced a heavy tax demand from the state government, revealing that the experience became so overwhelming that he sought the help of Catholic Bishop Emeritus of Nsukka Diocese, Bishop Godfrey Onah.
Onyishi made the revelation while recounting a difficult period he experienced with the state government.
According to the Peace Mass Transit boss, the incident affected him deeply, prompting him to visit Bishop Onah’s residence, where he reportedly knelt down and cried.
“There was a day this state government did what they did to me. I have not told anybody before, but I am going to say it today. They imposed a heavy tax on me. I went to Bishop Godfrey Onah’s house, knelt down and cried. He prayed for me and consoled me,” Onyishi said.
The revelation has generated reactions on social media, with some Nigerians questioning how tax assessments are conducted by state revenue authorities and calling for greater transparency in the process.
One internet user argued that tax authorities should rely on proper examination of financial records before arriving at tax liabilities.
The user wrote:
“How would a state government just wake up and impose heavy tax on someone arbitrarily? Something that, in a sane clime, someone would hire a tax accountant for: they’d check every invoice and financial book, and then come to a conclusion in a situation where the company has not been paying tax.
“They’d even return excess tax back to companies or individuals, should there be some. At my office, revenue people will just bring bills, and you’d be wondering: how did they come to that conclusion?
“There’s no institutional flow in anything — just some blue-collar civil servants trying to take from other people’s hard efforts. It’s one of those things that makes one feel used by one’s own state or country, and it would actually build towards unpatriotism.”
Another social media user linked the issue to the experience of businesses in Benue State, writing:
“That’s how they used tax to pursue all the big factories and companies in Benue State.”
