Governor Alex Otti has defended the sealing of offices belonging to Globacom in Abia State, insisting that his administration will continue to respect and abide by court decisions.
The telecommunications company’s offices were shut on Friday, February 6, 2026, following an order of the Abia State High Court over alleged non-remittance of taxes exceeding ₦4 billion to the state government between 2010 and 2022.
Otti clarified the government’s position during his February media chat with journalists at the Government House in Umuahia, stressing that the action was in compliance with a valid court judgment rather than an executive directive.
The order stemmed from a judgment delivered on January 14, 2026, by Justice Chido Nwakanma in Suit No. HU/225M/2025, filed by the Abia State Board of Internal Revenue Service against Globacom.
In the ruling, the court directed the company to pay ₦4,048,748,880 as outstanding Right of Way Withholding Taxes and other statutory levies. The court further ordered that the sum attract 10 per cent annual interest from the date the taxes became due until full payment.
Additionally, the court granted an order of distraint authorising the seizure of Globacom’s goods, chattels and premises within Abia State, and empowered authorities to sell such assets after 14 days to recover the debt.
As of press time, the company’s offices across the state remained sealed. However, sources indicated that Globacom has filed an appeal challenging the judgment.
Details of the appeal were yet to be independently confirmed, as neither the tax agency nor the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Ikechukwu Uwanna, had issued official statements on the development.
