NIGERIA: Adeleke Orders Police To Halt Tax Extortion, Document Forgery

By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria

Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has ordered the State Commissioner of Police to stop the illegal imposition of taxes and forgery of council documents by some court-sacked local government chairmen.

In a statement released by his spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, the governor described the actions as a threat to law and order, particularly condemning reports from Boripe Local Government where sacked officials allegedly formed illegal revenue taskforces.

The directive, issued on Saturday through the governor’s spokesperson, follows reports of illegal revenue activities, particularly from Boripe Local Government, where some ousted chairmen reportedly formed unauthorized revenue taskforces and forged council documents.

The statement reads: “This is an affront to the law and a clear act of disrespect to the judiciary. We cannot fold our arms while these illegal activities continue under the guise of leadership.”

According to the statement, the governor was alarmed by revelations that fake council documents including local government identification letters and market receipts were being issued to unsuspecting members of the public by the illegal task forces.

He further questioned: “Is this the reason for illegal occupation of local government secretariats? Is it all about extorting the people and imposing hardship on them? This must stop forthwith.

“Forgery and illegal tax collection are criminal offences. Anyone involved will face the full weight of the law.”

The governor further called on the public to remain vigilant and report any such illegal activities to the appropriate authorities.