By Edem Edem, DailyNews
The chairman of the Cross River Anti Tax Agency, Bishop Emmah Isong, has condemned the action of illegal tax and toll collectors in the State.
Speaking in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, Bishop Isong regretted the actions of these illegal collectors explaining that “the enforcement of Governor Ben Ayade’s Anti Tax Law had commenced:
“And you can see, we were on the streets to arrest those still flaunting the government’s order on illegal tax and toll’s collection.
“Those arrested would not escape the arm of the law as they are going to be prosecuted at the Special Court as provided for in 2015 by-law set up for that purpose.
“We only enjoin Cross Riverians to go about their lawful businesses and report to the Agency anybody found in the sales of illegal tickets and collection of taxes from keke, taxi and low income earners” he stated.
Also, the State Security Adviser, South, Mr Ani Esin said that the raid was carried over by his team and other sister agencies.
“These illegal tax collectors allegedly collected tolls from market women and sold illegal tickets to taxi and keke operators.
He said they decide to embark on the exercise to enforce Governor Ben Ayade’s order against illegal taxation in the state.
“So our department, the Special Services, in collaboration with Anti Tax Agency, went to the streets to clean it up of illegal taxation and it is going to be a continuous exercise knowing that these illegal operators come out in the morning, afternoon and evening.
“So far we have arrested about 12 of them and we promise to eradicate the menace. All we need do is to trigger it.
“We are worried because people are afraid of driving out of their houses for fear that their cars may be impounded or their goods seized by these illegal taskforce and tolls’ operators,” he stated
