The Abia State Harmonised Task Force, ASHTF, and the Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, have announced the uncovering of a network of fake revenue agents operating across Aba, leading to the arrest of two suspects and the recovery of N766,000 illegally collected from unsuspecting residents.
According to the agencies, the operation took place at Block 6, Green House, Osisioma Local Government Headquarters.
A statement released by the Abia State Harmonised Task Force on Thursday said the crackdown followed a directive from the Special Adviser on IGR, Mr Emmanuel Okpechi, in response to numerous reports of fraudulent revenue demand notices circulating within the state.
The spokesperson of ASHTF, Miracle Chukwunenye, who signed the statement, said Mr Okpechi, accompanied by the revenue agent in charge of Osisioma, Mr Chimezie, and the Director of Operations (Revenue), went from house to house to verify the authenticity of demand notices served to property owners.
“Their findings confirmed the existence of fake revenue agents who had been issuing counterfeit notices, illegally impounding properties, and collecting cash without remitting through the official government channels.
“Acting swiftly on intelligence, the Harmonised Task Force raided the Osisioma LGA premises and arrested two suspects and rescued two victims,” Chukwunenye said.
He disclosed that the fake revenue agents had earlier seized several properties belonging to their victims unlawfully, without any court order or authorisation.
“A total of ₦766,000 in cash was recovered from the suspects, believed to have been extorted from multiple residents. The suspects are currently in custody and undergoing investigation,” the ASHTF spokesperson said.
Speaking after the operation, Uche Wogu, the Aba Area Coordinator of the Harmonised Task Force, confirmed the arrests and urged Aba residents and business owners to make payments only through verified government channels.
