Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Awka, Anambra State — The Anambra State Internal Revenue Service (AIRS) has apprehended a woman accused of selling illegal consolidated transport emblems within the state, in what officials described as an attempt to undermine the government’s revenue system.
The suspect, identified as Mrs. Ifeoma Chukwueloka from Ozubulu in Ekwusigo Local Government Area, was paraded by the agency after her arrest during an enforcement operation in Awka. According to the AIRS Special Squad Commander, Mr. Nathan Obikwelu, Chukwueloka and her associates allegedly purchased consolidated emblems from other states and resold them in Anambra, depriving the state government of legitimate internally generated revenue.
Mr. Obikwelu told reporters that the conduct of the suspect and her cohorts amounts to economic sabotage, warning that such activities could weaken efforts to expand local revenue bases and sustain public services. He emphasised that only emblems issued by the Anambra State Government are valid for commercial vehicles operating on the state’s roads, and that the sale or use of emblems sourced from other jurisdictions is prohibited.
“The fraudulent distribution of transport emblems not sanctioned by this state is unacceptable,” Obikwelu said. “Every commercial bus or shuttle operating within Anambra must be properly registered and must display the official Anambra emblem. Those who seek to subvert this process are not only stealing revenue; they are sabotaging our economy.”
The Special Squad commander praised Governor Chukwuma Soludo for granting full support to revenue enforcement efforts, noting that the governor’s backing has empowered AIRS to take more decisive action against revenue fraud. He also expressed gratitude to the Chairman of AIRS, Dr. Greg Ezeilo, for providing moral and logistical support to the enforcement team.
In her response, Mrs. Chukwueloka did not deny the allegation. She told investigators that the emblems were provided to her by her “madam” in Ozubulu, suggesting the existence of a broader network involved in the illicit trade.
AIRS officials said the agency will continue to track down individuals and groups engaged in similar activities, vowing that enforcement operations will intensify to protect legitimate revenue streams and uphold the rule of law in the state’s commercial transport sector.
The arrest is part of a wider enforcement campaign by Anambra State authorities to clamp down on revenue leakages and ensure that commercial operators comply with all requirements for operation within state boundaries. AIRS has reiterated its commitment to strengthening internal revenue collection and closing loopholes exploited by unscrupulous actors.
As the matter is processed through the appropriate administrative and legal channels, the government has urged members of the public to report suspicious activities that could harm the state’s economic interests, reaffirming its stance that revenue integrity is essential to development and service delivery.
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