Men
of the Delta State Police Command have arrested the managing director
of an oil servicing company and some police officers who allegedly
assaulted staff of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) on official
duty in Warri, Delta State.
The
arrest of the perpetrators of the attack on FIRS officials was sequel
to a formal complaint and appeal by the FIRS State Coordinator for Edo,
Delta and Rivers, Hon. Joel-Onowakpo Thomas.
He
had lodged a complaint at the Police Headquarters Asaba prompting the
Commissioner of Police, Delta State Police Command, Baba Usman Alkali to
help fish out those behind the dastardly act.
Armed
with enough proof, the police swung into action and apprehended Eric
Jemijereye, Managing Director, Jemtech Global Engineering Company
Limited, the company Secretary and some security men attached to the
company.
Jemijeraye,
at the office of the Commissioner of Police apart from regretting the
assault said that his company has been paying taxes but has not been
filing.
‘’I
am not a community leader, politician. I know it happened for a
purpose. In fact I cannot explain it. I don’t create violence. I cannot
encourage abduction. Please forgive us.’’
Reacting
to the arrest, the FIRS State Coordinator, Joel-Onowakpo, commended the
police for their prompt response which led to the arrest of those who
aborted the tax monitoring work of the staff of the Service.
He
specifically commended the effort of the Commissioner of Police for
showing good example by not shielding those involved, particularly when
his men were fingered to have been involved in the alleged assault.
Joel-Onowakpo
said that the act of molestation meted out on FIRS staff could be
likened to destruction of government property which the law frowns
against in its entirety.
While
calling on the general public to accord tax officials both at the state
and federal level the respect they deserve, he warned that anyone
caught harassing or attacking any officer on duty would be made to face
corresponding punishment.
He
warned that the Federal Inland Revenue Service under the watch of the
Executive Chairman, Mr. Babatunde Fowler would not tolerate any act of
lawlessness in the process of tax collection.
The
Police Commissioner, Mr. Baba Usman Alkali decried the assault, saying
it was an act carried out by the company on FIRS especially when they
came with a flier and introduced themselves.
He
said the Federal Government is taking Internally Generated Revenue,
IGR, very serious and vowed that his command will do everything possible
to protect tax officials as they go about their lawful duty.
He
gave the management of Jemtec two weeks to resolve the matter with FIRS
or alternatively commence court action on the matter while he ordered
disciplinary action on policemen involved.
Written by NEWSTRAWL ONLINE UPDATE
Sodiq Oyeleke is a Media, Human Resources, Project Management and Public Relations Practitioner
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