A man seen in a viral video extorting taxes from vegetable sellers at the International Market in Ebonyi State has been arrested, the state government confirmed on Monday.
The arrest follows the violation of an executive order issued by Governor Francis Nwifuru, which prohibits the taxation of petty traders dealing in perishable goods. The governor had earlier warned against such practices on March 20, 2024, during the inauguration of the Ebonyi State Revenue Appeal Commission.
Leo Oketa, the governor’s Special Assistant on New Media, stated that the suspect’s actions were in direct opposition to government policy. “This individual’s activities are unknown to the government and violate the executive order protecting petty traders,” he said.
The police in Abakaliki were alerted to the incident and quickly apprehended the suspect. Mr. Oketa confirmed that the individual will face prosecution in line with the law.
