SHELL DEBUNKS TAX EVASION REPORT

WARRI-SHELL   Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, yesterday, denied the allegation by Delta State Board of Internal Revenue, DBIR, Warri, Delta State, that it (Shell) was holding back tax remittances to the board.

Chairman of DIBR, Mr. Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, had claimed that Shell and Chevron Nigeria Limited were playing hide and seek. Shell, in a statement by its Media Relations Office, Warri, Mr. Joseph Obari, said: 'We are engaging the Delta State Government on a date for an audit of PAYE and Withholding Tax remittances in the state.

'As a responsible corporate citizen, we regularly remit all PAYE and Withholding Taxes to the state government. All our tax remittances are up to date, and we publish such payments annually.'

Meanwhile, a group under the auspices of Transparent Leadership Initiative, TLI, Warri, has commended the leadership of DBIR on its resolve to investigate and compel multi-national oil companies and other corporate organisations operating in the state to remit their due taxes to the state government.

TLI, in a statement by Mr. Efe Idudu, National President, said the recent directive by chairman of DBIR to investigate Shell and Chevron was a welcome development.