A Revenue Court in the Warri Judicial Division, has ordered Nigitrade International Company to remit the sum of One billion, Four Hundred and Forty Three Million, Three Hundred and Nine Thousand, Two Hundred and Eighty Six Naira Eighty Eight kobo (N1,443,309,286.88) to the Delta State Internal Revenue Service.
The Court in its judgement in Suit No: RCW/01/23, delivered on Monday, 6th October 2025, by Hon Justice Champion Umukoro, said the amount represents unpaid taxes for the period of 2015 to 2020.
Justice Umukoro observed that ”Prior to the institution of the case in court, the Defendant was served several notices for payment of their staff personal income taxes amidst other taxes, but it neglected, failed and refused to remit same to the Delta State Internal Revenue Service.
He explained that the action of the company offended Sections 54, 57, 59, and 78 of the Personal Income Tax Act (PITA) and Section 44(1) of the DSIRS Law.
Nigitrade International Company had filed a preliminary objection, claiming that taxes of its workers should be paid by Chevron Nigeria Ltd as they are labour providing firm to Chevron in its EGTL project at Escravos.
The court however struck out the objection after DSIRS counsel presented a document from Chevron, which explicitly stated that Nigitrade are independent contractors and that Chevron bears no responsibility for their staff remuneration or taxes.
Justice Umukoro therefore struck out the preliminary objection and thereafter entered judgement in favour of the Delta State Internal Revenue Service and ordered the defendant to remit the sum of N1,443,309,286.88 being unpaid PAYE, withholding taxes and development levies that is due to the Revenue Service.
Reacting to the decision of the court, Executive Chairman, Delta State Board of Internal Revenue Service, Hon Solomon Ighrakpata, described the judgment as a landmark ruling, saying that the funds rightfully belonged to the people of Delta State for critical infrastructural development.
Ighrakpata said the Revenue Service was not relenting in its pursuit at minimizing tax evasion in the state and urged defaulters to voluntarily regularize their tax status with the Service to avoid severe consequences of enforced recovery, mounting penalties, and prosecution.