Delta Court Sends Illegal Tax Collectors to Prison

A Magistrate’s Court in Osubi, Delta State, has sentenced four men to four years in prison for illegal revenue collection. The convicts, Otekevwe Festus, Charles Chinedu, Matthew Onisukume and Marcus Chinugo were found guilty of extortion and conspiracy after posing as government tax officers.

The case, brought by the Delta State Internal Revenue Service (DSIRS), centred on reports that the men had been collecting money from motorists at Koko Junction along the Sapele–Benin Expressway. The court ruled that their actions undermined legitimate tax operations and imposed an alternative fine of two million naira each.

DSIRS Chairman, Hon. Solomon Ighrakpata, said the judgment reinforced the government’s resolve to end unauthorised revenue collection. He said the agency would continue to work with law enforcement to protect state income and maintain public confidence in the tax system.

He also urged residents to report individuals or groups demanding illegal levies, warning that the state would prosecute anyone involved in extortion or tax fraud. The ruling comes amid wider efforts to increase transparency in Delta’s revenue generation process.