Enugu State Governor Takes Action Against Illegal Revenue Collectors
Dr. Peter Mba, the Governor of Enugu State, has initiated a crackdown on illegal revenue collectors and extortionists, responding to ongoing complaints from residents about the burdens these individuals have placed on their lives.
On Tuesday, Governor Mba announced the immediate suspension of daily fee collection from traders operating without locked shops, deeming this practice illegal. In a concurrent development, the Enugu State Police Command brought two individuals before the Enugu Magistrate’s Court on charges of theft, forgery of receipts, and illegal revenue collection associated with the registration of local doctors.
This measure to suspend daily revenue collection for small traders was unveiled during a stakeholder meeting focused on the Clarification and Harmonization of Revenue Collection in Markets, organized by the Enugu State Inland Revenue Authority at the Old Government Lodge in Enugu. The initiative aims to provide relief to the community in line with new tax regulations designed to support economically vulnerable populations.
Representing the governor, Professor Chidiber Onia, the Secretary to the State Government, confirmed that a special committee led by the SSG has been established to ensure compliance with these new guidelines. He emphasized that any individual—regardless of whether they represent government or private interests—caught collecting daily tolls of N100 or N200 would face severe legal repercussions.
Governor Mba also urged local government leaders, traditional rulers, market officials, civil society organizations, and the general public to report any violations of this directive to the designated task force. He made it clear that the order would not impact operators of lock-up shops who currently pay annual fees of N30,000 or N36,000, stressing the administration’s commitment to alleviating the struggles of the population.
Police Action on Forgery and Theft Charges
In a related development, police have charged Mr. Christopher Ifeanyi, 65, and Ms. Chinenye Ugwu with serious offenses at the Enugu North Magistrate’s Court. They stand accused of using counterfeit receipts to falsely register a local doctor within Enugu North Local Government Area, thereby misleading the public during official inspections.
The charges, filed under case number MEN/153C/2026, allege that on March 31, 2026, Ifeanyi, Ugwu, and other accomplices—now fleeing—conspired to commit theft and forgery at the Enugu North Local Government Secretariat. The allegations assert they stole N700,000 belonging to the Enugu State Government and manufactured fake registration receipts for native doctors, intending to present them as legitimate.
The defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the presiding judge, OS Chukwani, has scheduled the next court appearance for May 8. Police prosecutor Rosemary Ojobo represented law enforcement, while the national prosecutor, Onye Ugwu, oversaw the proceedings on behalf of the Democratic Progressive Party Prosecution Service.
