Nigerian TikTok personality, Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Peller, has raised alarm over a ₦18 million tax bill issued to him by the Lagos State Inland Revenue Service.
The content creator, in a video shared online, made an emotional appeal to the government, pleading for understanding over what he described as an overwhelming demand.
“Government, please, I need you to pity me. I don’t have anything; I am just managing. How can you tell me to come and pay a huge tax? Do you want to k!ll me? You also have someone like me as a child at home? Why are you doing this to me?” he lamented.
Peller linked the unexpected tax notice to a circulating rumour that he paid ₦25 million to fellow TikToker, Gehgeh, for a guest appearance on his livestream. He believes the rumour may have painted a false picture of his financial capacity and triggered the attention of tax authorities.
In a follow-up video, he clarified the circumstances surrounding the payment claim. “Please don’t listen to him (Gehgeh). I did not pay such an amount. It was my fans who contributed to the studio payment. I am just a normal guy on the street. Even the partnerships I do online, they don’t pay more than ₦200k or ₦500k,” he explained.
Peller maintained that the viral misinformation had significantly misrepresented his earnings, resulting in the heavy tax bill.
