Imo State Government officials have arrested an indigene of Ebonyi State, identified as Mr. Moses, for allegedly impersonating multiple government agencies.
The suspect is said to be involved in illegal revenue collection activities.
He was apprehended by the Compliance and Monitoring Team of the State Government, under the directive of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Monitoring and Compliance, Nze Chinasa Nwaneri.
Nwaneri stated that the suspect had been operating around Imo State University, IMSU, junction, Orji Flyover, Amakohia Flyover, and Akwakuma axis.
He revealed that the apprehended fake revenue collector had allegedly created a network of criminal activities, falsely presenting himself as an agent of various Government bodies, such as the Owerri Capital Development Authority (OCDA), Imo State Environmental Transformation Commission (ENTRACO), and the Imo State Waste Management Agency, among others.
It was also reported that the suspect allegedly masterminded the illegal painting of commercial buses, known locally as busimo, using unauthorized colours and symbols in a bid to extort money from unsuspecting drivers and traders.
“This arrest is part of Governor Hope Uzodimma’s zero tolerance for fraud and criminality in the State.
“We are determined to sanitize the system and ensure that only authorized agents carry out Government responsibilities,” Nwaneri said.
The suspect has been handed over to the Nigeria Police Force for further investigation and prosecution.