Officials of the Lagos Internal Revenue Service, LIRS, have shut down Infinity Television owned by flamboyant preacher, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, for owing the state government several millions.
This is coming on the heels of Tuesday's protest by workers of the TV station over non payment of 10 months salaries and non-remittance of their Pay As You Earn, PAYE, tax to the appropriate authorities.
Ailing Infinity TV, located on 16, Moyibat Oyefusi Street, Omole Phase 1, is a Direct To Home, DTH cable TV owned by Pastor Oyakilome of Christ Embassy and was incorporated in 2009.
As members of staff of the company were protesting non-payment of salaries on Tuesday, officials of the LIRS stormed the premises of the company, shut it down and placed a notice on the gate after locking it with padlock.
Some of the workers who spoke with newsmen but asked not to be mentioned said they were ready to protest to ChristEmbassy Church on Oregun Road at the Cross Over Night on 31 December, 2014 to demand for the payment of their entitlements since the management of the company is planning to lay them off without paying the arrears of their salaries. "Prior to this time, the staff had been receiving half salaries (for over a year) and by June 2014 salaries have not been paid to date. To worsen the case, the staff were barred from entering the office premises by the Chief Operating Officer, Mr Henry Kifordu.
"All efforts by the staff to meet with the management proved abortive. Staff taxes and pensions have been deducted for years and were never remitted to appropriate authorities. Infinity TV was finally locked up for tax evasion on 23 December, 2014," a staff of the company stated.
The aggrieved workers said they were left with no other option than to take to the streets to fight for their rights and have decided to storm Christ Embassy's 31 December night global service to make their grievances known to Oyakhilome, whom, they believed, may not be aware of the happenings in the company.
