Connect with us

National

Anambra Govt. sacks revenue officers for assault

Published

on

By Sola Omoniyi, Lagos

The Anambra State Government has dismissed two revenue officers who allegedly molested a motorist by dragging him down from his vehicle and driving it to an unknown destination.

Their dismissal followed a viral video where the officers were seen dragging the motorist out of his vehicle and driving away in the same vehicle.

The two officers from the Unified Hybrid Enforcement Team were acting on behalf of the Anambra State Internal Revenue Service.

Addressing journalists in Awka, on Tuesday, the Chairman, of AIRS, Dr Greg Ezeilo, described the officers’ conduct as a sharp contrast to the philosophy of the state government.

Although Ezeilo did not mention the names of the officers, he said the culprits had shown remorse and that the dismissal would serve as a deterrent to others.

He said, “We confirmed they are our personnel and the transporter who plies Onitsha and Edo was stopped by the officers who checked his profile on our portal and found that he owed N47,000.

“But trying to make him pay, the driver sped off but was blocked by the officers who went off their mandate to manhandle him and pulled him out of the vehicle in an unacceptable manner.

“That was not the kind of training we gave them. Commonly, taxpayers often don’t want to pay unless compelled to do so, but the manner of compulsion is what is appalling. That’s why we apprehended them.

“Although they are full of apologies, we must do the needful to send a warning signal to their colleagues on the field. For that singular act, they will be dismissed and that’s final.”

IMG-20230118-WA0017