AMAC taskforce arrests 13 illegal revenue collectors

By Ruth Oketunde

The Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) taskforce on revenue monitoring, inspection and enforcement has arrested 13 revenue collectors, allegedly operating illegally within the area council.

The 13 suspects, mostly youths between 25 and 40 years were arrested in different parts of the council on Wednesday in Abuja, during a sting operation led by chairman of the taskforce, Mr Yunusa Yusuf.

Yusuf said that it was illegal for any tax payer to pay cash to anyone parading themselves as AMAC representative or to any account other than that of the area council.

He said that ”anyone who does otherwise would have to pay double to the appropriate account whenever the taskforce comes for monitoring.

“After our inauguration on April 4, we were given the mandate of revenue monitoring, inspection and enforcement.

“Today, we went round the council and arrested these 13 illegal revenue collectors, we have a mobile court with four judges, so they will be prosecuted.

“They will face the wrath of the law for defrauding AMAC,” he said.

Yusuf added that the taskforce would continue its operation to ensure the council was rid of the imposters.

“We need the revenue to provide dividends of democracy to AMAC residents. They deserve potable water, good roads, better health care and other basic amenities.

“Therefore the illegal revenue collectors are depriving them of the basic amenities and we will not allow that to continue.

“The only exception is okada riders and motorists who buy tickets of N100 or N200 and pay cash because it is a minimal daily transaction.

“However we will still monitor and arrest those who go to UTC to print receipts bearing AMAC with intent to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.

“We will not rest until we sanitize the system and prosecute those involved, no matter who they are,” he said.

(NAN)