The Lagos State Government has responded to TikTok influencer Habeeb “Peller” Hamzat’s public outcry over a reported N36 million tax bill from the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS), emphasizing that all individuals earning legitimate income in the state are legally obligated to pay taxes. In a statement to The Punch on August 19, 2025, Abdulkabir Ogungbo, Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Tax and Revenue, clarified that the LIRS operates autonomously to assess taxes under Section 24 of the Nigerian Constitution, which mandates tax payment on all legitimate income, including from digital platforms like TikTok. Ogungbo noted he would review Peller’s case but stressed, “Anybody who is legitimately earning must declare their income honestly to the authorities.” The statement follows Peller’s viral livestream with singer Peruzzi, where he claimed the tax demand was triggered by his TVC interview boasting about TikTok earnings, which he later said was exaggerated.
Peller, a 20-year-old content creator with over 11 million TikTok followers, argued the N36 million bill was excessive, stating, “I don’t have anything. I just came into the limelight last year,” and claimed his income comes solely from social media, not Nigeria-based sources. Peruzzi, during the livestream, advised compliance, warning, “You must pay it, or you’ll be arrested,” and revealed his own tax payments exceed Peller’s bill. The LIRS has not directly responded to Peller’s claims, with its Head of Corporate Communications, Monsurat Amasa, unavailable for comment.
