A Magistrate’s Court sitting in Osubi, Okpe local government area of Delta State has sentenced four persons: Otekevwe Festus, Charles Chinedu, Matthew Onisukume and Marcus Chinugo to four years imprisonment each for conspiracy and extortion.
The quartet, who were dragged to the Court by the Delta State Internal Revenue Service, were found guilty of illegal collection of revenue at Koko junction, along Sapele-Benin expressway.
The convicts are to serve their terms at the Sapele Correctional Centre with hard labour or an option of fine to the tune of N2 million each.
Reacting to the development, the Executive Chairman, Delta State Internal Revenue Service, Hon Solomon Ighrakpata, commended the Magistrate’s Court for upholding the law, which will deter others from engaging in similar acts.
He said “We applaud the Court’s decision, which sends a strong message that tax evasion and extortion are not tolerated in Delta State. This judgment underscores our commitment to protecting government revenue and ensuring that all taxable entities comply with the law.
“We urge all citizens to report suspicious activities or unauthorized revenue collection to our office. Together, we can build a culture of voluntary compliance and contribute to the development of our great state.
“Let this serve as a warning to those who seek to undermine our revenue generation efforts: we will explore all avenues to ensure that they face the full weight of the law”, Ighrakpata added.
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