A Magistrate’s Court sitting in Osubi, Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State, has sentenced four men to four years imprisonment each for conspiracy and extortion after being caught illegally collecting revenue on a major highway.
The convicts; Otekevwe Festus, Charles Chinedu, Matthew Onisukume, and Marcus Chinugo were found guilty of extorting motorists at Koko Junction along the Sapele-Benin Expressway. The court, following their conviction, ordered that they be remanded at the Sapele Correctional Centre with hard labour, or pay a fine of N2 million each.
The Delta State Internal Revenue Service (DSIRS), which prosecuted the case, said the sentence marks a significant victory in the fight against illegal revenue collection across the state.
Reacting to the judgment, the Executive Chairman of DSIRS, Hon. Solomon Ighrakpata, praised the court for delivering justice that would serve as a deterrent to others engaged in extortion and tax evasion.
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“We commend the Magistrate’s Court for its firm stance against illegal revenue collectors,” Ighrakpata said. “This ruling sends a clear message that extortion and unauthorised revenue collection will not be tolerated in Delta State. It also reinforces our commitment to safeguarding government revenue and ensuring that every taxable individual or organisation operates within the law.”
Ighrakpata urged residents to report cases of illegal revenue collection, stressing that the state government is determined to build a transparent and accountable tax system. “Together, we can promote voluntary compliance and contribute to the economic growth of our state,” he added.
He further warned that the DSIRS would continue to track and prosecute offenders, saying, “Anyone caught undermining our revenue generation process will face the full weight of the law.”
