Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have arrested the Managing Director of an oil services company and some police officers who allegedly assaulted staff of the Federal Inland Revenue Service on official duty in Warri area of 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 State, Hon. Joel-Onowakpo Thomas.
Thomas had lodged a complaint at the Police Headquarters in Asaba, the Delta State capital, prompting the Commissioner of Police, Delta State Police Command, Baba Usman Alkali, to fish out those behind the dastardly act.
Armed with enough proof, the police swung into action and apprehended Eric Jemijereye, the Managing Director of 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 his company has been paying taxes but has not been filing.
He said: “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, Thomas 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 Alkali for showing good example by not shielding those involved, particularly when his men were fingered to have been involved in the alleged assault.
Thomas said the molestation of FIRS staff could be likened to the 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 levels 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 FIRS under the watch of the Executive Chairman, Babatunde Fowler, would not tolerate any act of lawlessness in the process of tax collection.
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 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 the FIRS or alternatively commence court action on the matter.
He equally ordered disciplinary action on policemen involved.
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