In his efforts to rid the state of corrupt government officials, the state governor has fired one and arrested two others involved in a major scam.
Following the discovery of a case of alleged fraud running intomillions, the Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has relieved the Chairman of the State Internal Revenue Board, Ropo Ogunjobi for negligence his duties.
Two other officials of the board were on Thursday arrested by the police in connection with the alleged fraud.
The two suspected racketeers allegedly forged the receipts meant for the newly introduced fee for Tipper Trucks’ Haulage.
The suspects, Mr. Omotayo Ojo, an official of the revenue board and a printer, Mr. Akinniyi Akinsola, have reportedly made confessional statements to the police upon interrogation, indicting some other members of staff. Ojo reportedly confessed to have made N250, 000 from the fraud with the backing of some senior officials of the board.
He reportedly said he had printed 10 booklets of receipts with which he had been defrauding the government by collecting N500 rate per trip from tipper truck owners.
Although, the amount involved in the scam was not immediately known, sources said it could run into millions of Naira.
The governor warned the people of the state to stop paying money directly to any government official but rather approach the banks for such payments.
The governor, in a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Modupe Alade, said, “The Revenue Chairman, Ropo Ogunjobi, who also doubles as Special Assistant to the State Governor on Revenue Matters, should hand over to the most senior officer of the board.”
Fayose said the arrested duo would be prosecuted to serve as deterrent to others while expressing surprise that workers could still engage in defrauding the state despite the dwindling economic fortunes of the state.
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