Delta Government Criminalizes Illegal Development Levies

Community leaders in Delta State have once again been warned to desist from collecting illegal development levies, otherwise known as “deve” from developers or prepare to spend two years in jail, Warri Sentinel has gathered.

The statement, which was obtained by journalists in Warri on Saturday September 7, was made by the Director General of Delta State Orientation and Communications Bureau, Dr. Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe who revealed that collection of illegal levies had been outlawed in Delta State since 2018.

He explained that his bureau decided to shine the light on the provision of the law following series of complaints lodged at the Bureau, coupled with allegations of unscrupulous exploitations trending on social media platforms recently.

He said, “The Public and Private property Protection Law 2018, and more particularly at Section 13(1) and (2) unequivocally protect property developers from being exploited, and went on to prescribe two years imprisonment or N1million fine or both for violators and law breakers.”

Dr. Oghenesivbe revealed further penalties for those who sell landed properties for more than one person.

“Similarly, section 11(1)(a-c) and 2(a)&(b) equally prohibits anybody from selling landed property to more than one person, with or without legitimate title, and violators risks 5 years imprisonment upon conviction,” he said.