Governor Alex Otti has declared that his administration will continue to respect and enforce judicial decisions following the sealing of offices belonging to Globacom in Abia State over an alleged ₦4 billion tax liability.
The telecom giant’s offices across the state were shut on Friday, February 6, 2026, in compliance with an order of the Abia State High Court, which ruled that the company failed to remit taxes amounting to ₦4,048,748,880 over a 12-year period between 2010 and 2022.
Speaking during his February media chat with journalists at the Government House in Umuahia, Otti maintained that the state government would abide strictly by the court’s directive.
The court order followed a judgment delivered on January 14, 2026, by Justice Chido Nwakanma in Suit No. HU/225M/2025, instituted by the Abia State Board of Internal Revenue Service against Globacom.
In the ruling, the court directed the telecommunications firm to pay the Abia State Government the outstanding sum, representing unpaid Right of Way Withholding Taxes and other statutory levies. The judgment further stipulated a 10 per cent annual interest on the amount from the date the taxes became due until full payment.
Additionally, the court granted an order of distraint, authorising the seizure of the company’s goods, chattels and premises within Abia State, and empowering authorities to sell the assets after 14 days to recover the debt.
As of press time, Globacom’s offices across the state remained under seal. It was, however, gathered that the company has filed an appeal challenging the judgment.
Efforts to independently confirm details of the appeal proved unsuccessful, as neither the Abia State Board of Internal Revenue Service nor the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Ikechukwu Uwanna, had issued official statements on the development.
