The Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority (ECTDA), has arrested seven fake revenue collectors operating within Enugu North Local Government Area of the capital.
The said fake revenue collectors who claimed they were staff of the state Ministry of Environment and Enugu North Local Government Area were apprehended by the Executive Chairman of ECTDA, Josef Onoh and a team of security operatives.
It was gathered that the suspects at the point of arrest, had confiscated building materials from different construction sites within GRA axis of Enugu metropolis.
Items recovered from the suspects include, 10 cartons of 60×60cm tiles, two bags of white cement, fake ID cards, fake Ministry of Environment tax force letterhead and Youth Empowerment Levy receipts of Enugu North Local Government Area.
Addressing newsmen, after the arrest, Onoh said the brutality of the suspects action in collecting property levy and other revenue has sabotaged economic development in the state and assured the suspects would be handed over to the police who will charge them to court.
“We intercepted them during inspection. I heard some people screaming and shouting and we were already about driving out, so we thought they are robbers. My security team intercepted them and found out they are carrying out illegal duties under the disguise of youth empowerment,” Onoh said.
Contacted, the head of task force at the ministry of environment, Amaechi Orji, who came for clarification denied knowledge of them as a staff of the ministry.
“None of them is a staff of the Ministry. All the documents they have here are fake. None of them emanates from the ministry of environment. We don’t go on drive without team of security agents and don’t accept or collect cash because Enugu state have a single account where we pay. The ministry also give notice of grace before confiscating any item,” he said.
One of the suspects, Chukwuemeka Iloeme who disclosed that they work for Enugu North local government chairman, Emeka Odunze said that he is not aware of the ban on youth empowerment levy in the state.
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