PORT HARCOURT – The Obio/Akpor Local Government Council of Rivers State said on Monday that it has arrested some persons suspected to be fake revenue officials.
Dr Lawrence Chukwu, the council’s Caretaker Committee Chairmanl, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt that the suspects were allegedly extorting money from people.
Chukwu said they paraded themselves as council revenue agents, and illegally extorted money from some companies and motorists without approval from the council.
“These individuals posing as council officials were arrested recently.
“We will set an example with them for others who disturb and defraud corporate organisations and Keke Napep operators,” he said.
But the chairman said that the imposters would not be prosecuted due to public outcry to the action.
“The council will, however, go ahead with prosecution of the fake agents and their sponsors, if more arrests are made in the future,” he said.
Chukwu said he had dissolved and replaced all revenue committees to reduce touting in the council’s revenue collection approach.
The council boss said the new committee members had been trained to enable them conduct themselves in a more professional manner while carrying out their official duties.
“The business owners are part of us and important to us; hence the need to treat them fairly and professionally,’’ he said
