The Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, Justice Ekaete Obot, has emphasised the need for continuous training and retraining of judges and magistrates to ensure the effective handling of tax-related matters.

Justice Obot highlighted this during a three-day workshop on taxation for judges, themed “Contemporary Issues in Taxation,” held at Villa Hilton Hotels in Uyo on Wednesday.

“Taxation is an evolving field, subject to constant policy, law, and administrative changes. Being a vital component of generating government revenue and providing essential services, it serves as a fundamental pillar in shaping the economic landscape of any society.

“Therefore, continued training and retraining for judges becomes paramount for the efficient and effective handling of tax-related cases,” she stated.

She noted that as the bastion of justice, the judiciary is integral to efficient tax management, playing a crucial role in upholding the principles of justice, equity, and fairness through the interpretation of laws and the resolution of tax disputes.

While acknowledging that judges and magistrates must possess the necessary knowledge and skills to handle contemporary tax matters, the Chief Judge expressed confidence that the training would equip judges with the fundamentals of the power to distrain, as well as administrative and pre-judicial procedures.

Speaking with journalists after the opening ceremony of the workshop, the Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State Internal Revenue Service, Sir Okon Okon, stated that the workshop would explore possibilities aimed at ensuring that digital operators (cyber businesses) in the state are taxed to generate more revenue for the state.

He said, “We will look at the very grey area of taxation: how to tax the digital economy, like cyber businesses and all the activities conducted online. Cyber operators, unlike special income tax, don’t have a fixed residence; they are spread across the world.

“So, how do we track them and bring them into the tax net? What are the laws surrounding it? If there is an issue in court, how will the judge handle it? These are some of the issues we will discuss and develop a way forward.”