AbiaTakes Step to Shore Up Dwindling IGR

Emmanuel Ugwu

The Abia State Internal Revenue Service( ABiRS) is up in arms with persons and groups that have continued to cause revenue leakages in the state.

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu had set a monthly target of N1.5 billion for the revenue agency, but it appears the target was still far from being achieved due to massive leakages.

Last week the secretary to the state government (SSG), Mr. Chris Ezem lamented during a radio programme that Abia’s IGR still hovers between N700 million and N800 million every month.

The crackdown on fake revenue collectors spearheaded by the enforcement/ compliance team of ABiRS was launched in desperate bid to checkmate the fraudsters and shore up the IGR) profile.

Already the crackdown was yielding results as the revenue court last week convicted two suspects and sentenced them to three years imprisonment each, or a fine of N100,000.

The presiding magistrate, Chinyereugo Ibeh found George Ohankwu of Umunakara in Nwangele local government and Miss Patricia Onuegbu from Ugiri, Isiala Mbano local government guilty of illegally collecting revenue accruing to the government of Abia state.

When they were arrested by the enforcement team the suspects were found in possession of revenue receipts, notice of arrests for landlords/ occupants, demand notices, among other instruments of revenue leakages.

The illegal revenue collectors confessed that they were working for one Mrs. Esther Maduka, who was said to be working for one Dennis Nwamkpa both of whom were at large.

Prior to the crackdown on the illegal revenue collectors the new chairman of ABiRS, Mr. Celestine Boyle Agbara, had mounted enlightenment campaigns in the commercial city of Aba. In meetings with leaders of professional groups, market unions and traditional rulers the revenue boss emphasized that government had outlawed payment of revenue by cash.

He urged people to strictly adhere to government directive on payment of revenue in order to put fraudsters out of business.