•Alleges harassment, extortion of traders by Emeka Orji administration

By BONIFACE AKARAH

The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (InterSociety) has called for a comprehensive investigation into the finances and revenue collection activities of the outgone Onitsha South Local Government administration under Emeka Orji, alleging that about ₦1 billion was generated through unlawful taxes and levies between March and September 2026.

In letters dated September 30, 2026, and delivered to the Anambra State Executive and Legislative arms, InterSociety demanded that the alleged funds be traced and returned to the appropriate statutory coffers if found to have been diverted. The organisation also called for investigations into the activities of Orji and his team, including alleged harassment and extortion of traders.

The group said the administration vacated office on October 3, 2026, three days after its letters were delivered. It alleged that some of the disputed revenue was collected in cash and may have ended up in private accounts, contrary to public financial management regulations.

“Estimated N1billion is found to have been generated outside the law including payments made in cash, possibly ended up in private persons’ accounts in contradiction of official financial management regulations,” InterSociety alleged.

According to the organisation, the alleged revenue was generated through what it described as the duplication and criminalisation of taxes and levies imposed on traders and owners of warehoused goods in Onitsha South.

InterSociety said it had written to the Secretary to the Anambra State Government, Mrs Amaka Nnake, the Commissioners for Commerce and Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, and forwarded copies to Governor Charles Soludo and the Attorney General of the state.

The organisation also said it wrote to the Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Somtochukwu Udeze, with copies sent to the state Commissioner of Police and the State Director of the Department of State Services (DSS).

The letters, according to InterSociety, were titled “People’s Petition” and “Demand for Stewardship Accountability” and were accompanied by 14 pages of written evidence.

The group called on the Soludo administration to enforce existing laws governing the harmonisation, collection and sharing of taxes and levies across the state, while also demanding greater public disclosure of revenue generated by government.

“The Anambra State Government under him must also publicly account for bloated taxes and levies collected through public issuance of annual financial reports; eliminate abuse of public office power and corrupt practises,” the organisation stated.

InterSociety further demanded an investigation into the administration and finances of the former Onitsha South council, including the statutory remuneration received by its former chairman and financial transactions that may be linked directly or indirectly to him or his alleged proxies during the period under review.

“The demanded Government sanction or punitive steps must include tracking investments directly or indirectly linked to his names and his proxies especially between March and Sept 2026, if any,” it said.

The organisation also called for investigations and possible prosecution of anyone found to have undermined the state’s revenue laws through alleged forgery, multiplication or criminalisation of revenue demands and possible diversion of funds.

Among its other demands, InterSociety urged the state government to immediately halt what it described as extortionist revenue collection exercises in markets and street areas under Onitsha South and other parts of Anambra.

“Traders must not be criminalized and punished through multiplicity and criminalization of taxes and levies for paying taxes and levies,” the group said.

InterSociety also asked the state government to examine the former council administration for possible breaches of the Anambra State Fiscal Responsibility Law, the constitutional framework governing the State-Local Government Joint Account, the Anambra State Local Government Law of 2024 and the State Revenue Administration Law of 2023, among other laws it cited.

The organisation further demanded a joint executive investigation into alleged abuses, misconduct and statutory violations involving the former Onitsha South chairman and his team.

It called on the Anambra State House of Assembly to refer its petition to relevant committees, including those responsible for public petitions, corruption and abuse of public office, for investigation and possible legislative action.

InterSociety also urged Governor Soludo to remain focused on infrastructure and social service development across the state and to tackle what it described as nepotism, favouritism and corrupt practices.

The organisation said the alleged ₦1 billion must be traced and recovered if investigations establish that the funds were unlawfully collected or diverted, while anyone found culpable should face appropriate sanctions.