Governor Umahi Suspends Special Adviser Over Revenue Fraud

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Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi state has suspended his special adviser on internally generated revenue (IGR), Jeremiah Oketa.

According to reports, Okete was suspended on Thursday, February 4, for creating a separate bank account for payment of IGR without the consent of the state government.

The special adviser was said to have connived with a company given the contact to enumerate all the buildings in the state for tax payment and created separate bank account where the taxes would be paid without the knowledge of the government.

The state government, which had already created its own account for that purpose moved swiftly to suspend Oketa indefinitely.

Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi state
Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi state

The Nation reports that the suspension was announced at a press briefing by Emmanuel Onwe, the state commissioner for information and state orientation.

“The special adviser on IGR ,Chief J.O.J Oketa, has been suspended indefinitely for going beyond the authority and command of his office.

“Special advisers and commissioners are no longer authorised to collect taxes or revenue of any kind. The only legal body now authorised by council to collect revenue is the Ebonyi Board of Internal Revenue or any agent that the board may legitimately engage to do so.

“All payments of all kind of revenue should be done in the way it goes directly into the account of government,” the commissioner said.

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