The Civil Liberties Organisations, Akwa Ibom State chapter has written a petition to the Nigerian Immigration Service in the State, urging it to investigate an allegation against some expatriates working in Ibom Icon hotel and golf resort which bordered on working in the hotel without obtaining expatriate work permit.
The Chairman of the State CLO, Franklyn Isong while handing down the petition to the NIS Comptroller through the Assistant Comptroller, Investigation and Compliance Unit, Mr Effiong Bassey Usuk on Wednesday in NIS Secretariat, Uyo said, CLO acted based on the petition written to the Organisation by two management staff members of the hotel
Isong said in a letter addressed to his office by the Director of Engineering and the head, leisure and entertainment of the Ibom Icon hotel and golf resort, Etuk Terry Lawrence and Nkoyo Ekpo respectively the expatriates allegedly did not have work permit, therefore had not remitted taxes to the State government.
The letter according to Isong mentioned the expatriates to include: Tobias Kasaija(Financial Controller/AGM) -Uganda; Alex Kidavi(Head F&B)-Kenya; Adine Maina(CEO’s daughter)/Kenya; Fred Maina(Group CEO) Kenya; and Yao(Head Chef)- Benin Republic.
The letter added that the aforementioned management staff of the Ibom Icon Hotel and Golf Resort headed by the Chief Executive Officer, Fred Maina had not followed the laid down rules in the organisation which has brewed disharmony among them and urged the CLO to quickly intervene.
The letter read in parts, “It might interest you to know that all those employed by ICON as expatriates do not have work permit hence they do not remit taxes to Akwa Ibom State Government.
“In an attempt to shrewd this, they do not follow due process in their dealings in the organisation.
We want you to use your good offices to investigate and put the matters right. Your intervention would forestall a looming crisis in the hotel.
The CLO State Chairman, said it was on that premise, that the body had asked the NIS to urgently investigate the matter for the sake of the State and security of the nation adding, “CLO has set up a fact finding team on the issues raised in the said complaint and would want an audience with the agency.”
However, AC, Investigation and Compliance Unit, Mr Effiong Bassey Usuk, acknowledged the petition and noted that he would act accordingly as soon as the Comptroller orders him to do so.
