One of the illegal revenue collectors arrested on the highway along Enugu, Abakaliki and Ebonyi axis, Ejiofor (surname withheld), says that unemployment led him to take up the job of revenue generation he was doing for Ebonyi State government through a contractor, but claimed that he didn’t know he and others were not supposed to go to highways to exploit goods transporters.
Ejiofor, aged 35, was among the 20 suspects recently arrested by the Nigeria Police Force for their involvement in unauthorised revenue collection and multiple taxation in a move to give a boost to the federal government policy on tackling economic sabotage and illegal taxation.
The arrests were made along the Enugu, Abakaliki, and Ebonyi axis.
The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who spoke on the arrest of the suspects, said that it marked a significant step towards eradicating illegal activities, promoting economic growth and free flow of industrial and agricultural produce on highways across the country.
Nigerian Tribune learnt that police operatives made the breakthrough with initial arrest of 14 suspects at the Abakaliki and Ebonyi boundary, followed by additional arrest of five suspects at Abumeje, Ogoja, while the last suspect was nabbed at the Onuakpu area of Ebonyi.
The FPRO said that five of the suspects had been charged to court for economic sabotage and illegal and multiple taxation on highways, while others in the custody at Ebonyi Command would soon be arraigned.
“The Inspector-General of Police, Dr Kayode Egbetokun, has reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to dismantling all illegal revenue collection points and illegal taxation, ensuring a safer and more secure environment for citizens most especially businessmen and women in Nigeria.
“This operation remains a good start for the police to escalate and enforce the presidential order on ease of doing business and the fight against illegal road blocks, revenue collection and multiple taxation on the higways with a view to promoting economic development in Nigeria,” ACP Adejobi stated.
It was learnt that there is a court judgement that revenue could only be collected at the point of loading and offloading.
Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune in an interview, Ejiofor said: “I was employed to do IGR work with Ebonyi State Board of Internal Revenue. I graduated from Ebonyi State University in Industrial Chemistry in 2016. I was into farming when I couldn’t get an employment.
“Honourable Kenneth (surname withheld) invited me to do this job in March. He said that I should be collecting revenue from vehicles passing through the area and carrying produce. He is a contractor with the Board, but I was not given a letter employment by him.
“Our payment depends on the amount generated daily. Sometimes, we used to go home with between N2,500 and N3,500. But I don’t go everyday. Other people take over the following day, so my duty comes up every other day.
“We were not told that we were not supposed to go to the highway. We don’t use to do it by force. I’ve now seen that I’ve not been doing the right thing. I plead for pardon. I will not do it again.”
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