DSS nabs Anambra tax collector for fraud

The Department of State Services in Anambra State has arrested a
market leader, Victor Isichekwe, in Oye Uga, Aguata Local
Government Area of the state for allegedly diverting government
revenue into his personal account.

The Commissioner for Trade, Commerce, Market and Wealth Creation
in the state, Dr. Christian Mmadubuko, disclosed this to Southern
City News on Sunday.

He said he personally made the arrest and handed over the
suspect to the DSS.

The commissioner said, “The suspect is in the practice of
issuing fake receipts to payers to enable him to divert government
funds into his personal account. He has since been handed over to
the Department of State Services.”

Mmadubuko regretted that revenue diversion had continued
unabated in the state despite efforts by successive governments to
curb it.

While insisting that the era of misappropriation of government
funds was over, he warned that any persons caught in diverting
government funds would be prosecuted.

He added, “All those who have permit from the government to
collect revenue should liaise with my ministry to ensure their job
specification and the duration of their services, while the
marketers should put on hold any payment till further notice.”

The Head, Department of Market in the Ministry, Mrs. Nkiruka
Nwosu, said on assumption of office in 2017, she surprisingly
noticed that market leaders were giving authority letters to
collect revenue in their various markets.

She regretted that many of them were not complying with the
directive of using the integrated pay direct system in revenue
collection.

Speaking, the suspect, Isichekwe, said he was printing receipts,
not to divert government funds, but to satisfy traders, who
insisted that they would not pay government levies if receipts were
not issued to them.

The Department of State Services in Anambra State has arrested a
market leader, Victor Isichekwe, in Oye Uga, Aguata Local
Government Area of the state for allegedly diverting government
revenue into his personal account.

The Commissioner for Trade, Commerce, Market and Wealth Creation
in the state, Dr. Christian Mmadubuko, disclosed this to Southern
City News on Sunday.

He said he personally made the arrest and handed over the
suspect to the DSS.

The commissioner said, “The suspect is in the practice of
issuing fake receipts to payers to enable him to divert government
funds into his personal account. He has since been handed over to
the Department of State Services.”

Mmadubuko regretted that revenue diversion had continued
unabated in the state despite efforts by successive governments to
curb it.

While insisting that the era of misappropriation of government
funds was over, he warned that any persons caught in diverting
government funds would be prosecuted.

He added, “All those who have permit from the government to
collect revenue should liaise with my ministry to ensure their job
specification and the duration of their services, while the
marketers should put on hold any payment till further notice.”

The Head, Department of Market in the Ministry, Mrs. Nkiruka
Nwosu, said on assumption of office in 2017, she surprisingly
noticed that market leaders were giving authority letters to
collect revenue in their various markets.

She regretted that many of them were not complying with the
directive of using the integrated pay direct system in revenue
collection.

Speaking, the suspect, Isichekwe, said he was printing receipts,
not to divert government funds, but to satisfy traders, who
insisted that they would not pay government levies if receipts were
not issued to them.