Oyo Held 12 For Illegal Revenue Collection

Oyo Held 12 for Illegal Revenue Collection

Oyo State Board of Internal Revenue has arrested 12 people for allegedly collecting revenue illegally from unsuspecting members of the public.

The suspects were paraded on Monday in Ibadan at the Board of Internal Revenue office, Agodi Secretariat, Ibadan.

The suspects were reported to be collecting revenue as Traffic Task Force under the Traffic Control Authority of Oke’Badan North Local Council Development Area.

They have been operating as consultant under a company ‘Delight Network Ventures’.

Mr Biyi Oloko, the Special Adviser to Gov. Abiola Ajimobi on Board of Interval Revenue told newsmen that the state governor has declared readiness to block all revenue leakages.

He stated that the governor has set up an inter-ministerial task force to handle suspected cases of leakages

“We got intelligence report that some people have been collecting revenue illegally across the state.

“As soon as we got fresh information this morning, we quickly mobilized to site to identify one of the areas and this is the result you are seeing today,” he said.

He assured that government would ensure that whoever engaged in illegal collection of revenue was made to face the full wrath of the law.

Mr Kola Alli, leader of the suspects said  that they were on their daily duties on Tuesday when they saw security agents who came to effect their arrest.

Alli told newsmen that they have the authority of Oke’Badan LCDA management to collect the revenue on their behalf.

“We have not acted illegally. We are consultants and got approval from Oke’Badan LCDA to help them collect revenue.

“We have an agreement to be generating the revenue and remit N50,000 weekly to the council,” he said.

Mr Samuel Ajadi, the Caretaker Chairman of the LCDA told newsmen that the council issued approval to the consultants to collect revenue on behalf of the LCDA.

“There is a circular from the state that directed local governments and LCDAs across the state to generate revenue,” he said.

Ajadi said that the council had engaged the services of the suspects on the directive that local government and LCDAs can generate revenue.

Revenues from traffic and motor licencing were believed to be under the purview of the State’s Board of Internal Revenue and not the local council or local council development areas (LCDAs).