The Anambra Internal Revenue Service (AIRS) has dismissed five enforcement officers due to alleged corruption and harassment.

The names of the dismissed officers are Imo Okechukwu, Chibuzo Nwana (also known as DPO), Anthony Anwuru (also known as Timaya), Afamefuna Olinya, and Ebere Anike (also known as Holy Water).

In a statement issued on Thursday in Awka, the state capital, Hon. Juventus Chukwunweike Okoli, Head of the Transport Department at AIRS, stated that the dismissals were part of efforts to restore integrity in the transport sector and protect commercial transport operators throughout the state.

According to the body, “In a decisive move to restore sanity and protect commercial transport operators, the Anambra Internal Revenue Service (AIRS) has directed its Haulage IGR partner to summarily dismiss five enforcement officers indicted for corrupt practices”.

The AIRS stated that the dismissed officers were engaged by Mr. Dan Nwankwo, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Danjude Construction Ltd., the Service’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) partner for haulage collections, to support compliance enforcement operations across the state.

It disclosed that the dismissal directive was contained in a letter signed by Dr. Ndubuisi Achebe, Executive Director of the Informal Sector Directorate, AIRS, and copied to the Anambra State Commissioner of Police.

The agency said the officers were removed following persistent reports and complaints of double taxation, extortion, assault, theft, and harassment of commercial transport operators and other taxpayers.

It pointed out that the action was in line with the Anambra State Government’s commitment to promoting order, accountability, transparency, and the protection of taxpayers within the transport sector.

The management warned that any of the dismissed officers found engaging in haulage enforcement activities or revenue collection after the effective date of their dismissal would be deemed to be acting illegally and would be liable to immediate arrest and prosecution.

It further stated that the intervention is expected to bring relief to commercial transport operators across the state, enabling them to conduct their businesses without fear of illegal levies, intimidation, extortion, or harassment.

“With this intervention, commercial transporters in Anambra State can now operate without fear of illegal levies and intimidation,” it added. (Nigerian Tribune, excluding headline)