3 LGA officials arraigned for conspiracy, cheating

September 15, 2017 8:01 PM

The suspects were charged with criminal conspiracy, dishonesty and cheating.

Three officials of Kaduna North Local Government Area were on Friday, September 15, arraigned in a magistrates’ court by the Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KDIRS) for allegedly collecting cash from a tax payer.

The suspects are Shehu Hussaini of No 37, Badarawa Road, Tudun Wada, Sani Yaro of No 15 Gamagira Road also in Tudun Wada and Umar Jafar, currently at large.

They were charged with criminal conspiracy, dishonesty and cheating.

The Counsel to KDIRS, Mr Francis Kozah, told the court that the suspects committed the offences on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2017.

“The suspects, had on June 6, went to Babagana Hassan, the owner of Dagoshi Carpet, located at No 3, Yakubu Avenue, Kaduna, and served him with a Demand Notice of N20,000.

“On Sept. 13, the suspects conspired and collected the sum of N8,000 and issued Hassan a receipt of N10,000,’’ Kozah said.

He said that the offences were contrary to Section 51 of the Kaduna State Tax Codification and Consolidation Law, 2016, which prohibited cash collection of revenue by any revenue official.

Kozah urged the court to penalise the suspects in accordance with the provisions of Section 100 of General Offences of the law.

The suspects, who appeared without a counsel, pleaded not guilty.

The Magistrate, Mahmud Suraj, ordered that the suspects be remanded in prison and adjourned the case until September 27 for hearing.