A market leader in Oye Uga Market, Aguata Local Government Area, Anambra State, Victor Isichekwe, was at the weekend arrested by the Department of State Service (DSS) for allegedly diverting government revenue to his personal account.

Speaking on the arrest in Awka, the Commissioner for Trade, Commerce, Market and Wealth Creation, Dr Christian Mmadubuko, said he personally made the arrest and handed the suspect over to the DSS.

He said the suspect has been in the habit of issuing fake receipts to payers to enable him divert government funds to his personal account

According to the commissioner, revenue diversion had continued unabated in the state despite efforts by successive governments to curb it.

While stressing that the era of misappropriation of government funds was over, Mmadubuko warned that any persons caught in the diversion of government funds will not escape prosecution.

The commissioner said: “All those who have permit from the government to collect revenue should liaise with my ministry to ensure their job specification and the duration of their services, while the marketers should put on hold any payment till further notice.”

On his part, the Head of Department of Market in the Ministry, Mrs Nkiruka Ebo Nwosu, recalled that on assumption of office in 2017, she noticed that market leaders were giving authority letters to collect revenue in their various markets.

She regretted that many of them were not complying with the directive of using the integrated pay direct system in revenue collection.

The suspect, Isichekwe, said he was printing receipt to satisfy traders in the market who were bent on being issued receipt for any government levy paid arguing that it was not for diversion

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