* Government lied – Suspect
Five top ranking civil servants in Ondo state have been suspended and handed over to the police over alleged N200 million tax fraud.
The civil servants who were paraded before newsmen at the state police command headquarters on Tuesday include Mrs. Oluwatoyin Abiodun, Ojo Ayodeji, David Omoyajowo, Isaac Solomon and Femi Tuki.
The civil servants were said to have diverted funds meant for the coffers of the state government into private pockets.
Ondo state police command spokesman, Femi Joseph, told journalists that the suspects were allegedly issuing fake tax clearance, fake certificate of road worthiness and fake drivers’ license.
He said they would be charged to court as soon as investigation on the matter is concluded.
An alleged accomplice, Mr Ayadi Orimisan, whom the police said assisted the suspects to defraud the state government was also paraded.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Duties, Dr Doyin Odebowale, said interim report has shown that the state government had been defrauded to the tune of N200million, saying that’s the reason why they were handed over to the police.
One of the suspects, Mrs. Abiodun who confirmed their suspension by the state civil service commission denied the allegation.
According to her, the state government lied against them because all the monies they made in their various agencies and ministries go into the state coffers.
She lamented that after they were suspended and investigated according to civil service rules, they were still brought to the police for parade.
Orimisan however said he was contacted to help divert the fund meant for government.
