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Governor Ademola Adeleke has commended progress so far recorded in the state’s dispute with Thor’s Explorations Limited, affirming that mediations so far have confirmed the reality of most demands by the state government.
Responding after receiving preliminary report from the state team, led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Mining and Mineral Matters, Prof. Lukuman Adekilekun Jimoda, the state governor said it is great news that Thors Limited has eventually produced a written certificate of Osun State shares in the Segilola Gold Project.
The intermediation has also made Segilola, the operator of Thor Explorations, to accept the responsibility of opening all its accounting records for examination on the 3.25Billion Naira tax assessment by Osun State, in line with Personal Income Tax Act section 58 (2).
“We finally have an open and direct confirmation of Osun shareholding at five percent of what Tropical Mines Limited got. I look forward to hosting the federal mediation team for the formal presentation of the share certificate to the state government, although our demand is five (5) percent of the value of the gold asset, when it was acquired by Thor Explorations from its interest holders.
We also have additional economic interest, coming from Thor’s partnership offering, when it took 88 cadastral units, out of Osun’s exploration license.
“Our decision not to do under the table deal with Thors Explorations has paid off. From the beginning, I said I don’t want gold bars for myself or my family. I want Osun shares as an asset of the state and that the taxes be paid into her treasury”.
“We know other interest holders got cash and smelter fees during the acquisition by Thor, we are also insistent on immediate payment to the state treasury of the full amount due to the state from her interest in the gold project.
The financial implications of our holding must be redeemed without further delay”, the governor was quoted as saying.
On the update on payment of tax indebtedness to the state by Thors Exploration Limited, which required further documentation from the state, the governor directed his team to submit all required data and records, insisting that “Osun has legitimate PAYE tax demands, which Thors firm must fulfil. “I commend the federal mediation team for acting to enforce compliance with local tax and environmental laws. We are opposed to companies operating with impunity by neglecting observance of state laws. We are only asking Thors to comply with state laws as much as the federal laws.
There are other asset classes in Nigeria that are registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission. MTN and Airtel are telecom asset classes and they are registered in Nigeria, let Segilola Gold Project be registered in Nigeria.”
