The Imo State House of Assembly has set up a committee to investigate alleged illegal revenue collection by suspected fake revenue consultants at dredging sites in the state, following the adoption of a motion by Eddy Obinna (APC-Aboh Mbaise) at yesterday’s plenary.
Presenting the motion, Obinna stated that suspected fake revenue consultants have been extorting tipper drivers by collecting illegal fees at dredging sites in the state, saying: “This is against the procedure for revenue collection in the state as laid down by the state government in accordance with extant laws.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Obinna, who asked the House to direct the Commissioner for Mines and Solid Minerals to investigate activities of the suspected illegal revenue consultants, also called for monitoring of dredging sites in the state to ensure that revenues accruable were remitted to the state’s treasury.
He called for an ad hoc committee to investigate the activities of the ministry with a view to unearth the suspected fake revenue consultants.
Heclus Okoro (APC-Ohaji Egbema) supported the motion, saying that those indicted at the end of investigation should be brought to book to guard against future occurrences.
Michael Njoku (APC-Ihitte Uboma) also supported the motion, saying that no effort should be spared in ensuring that all revenues were channeled to appropriate quarters.
Njoku said that the Federal Government’s allocation was not enough to fund massive infrastructure development in the state, adding that the investigation should be extended to other ministries to uncover all other cases of possible illegal revenue collection.
Speaker of the House, Kennedy Ibeh, assured that a thorough investigation would be carried out to ascertain the truth of the matter and set up a six-member committee to handle the investigation.
Ibeh named the committee members as Kanayo Onyemaechi, as Chairman, while Eddy Obinna, Emeka Nduka, Heclus Okoro, Michael Njoku and Johnson Duru are members and directed the committee to report back in two weeks.
