The Niger State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has arrested an individual named Emmanuel Agai with 150 vehicle number plates suspected to be fake.
The State Commandant of the corps- George Edem, said this in an interview with the Northern City News, in Minna, on Thursday.
Edem said the suspect was trailed and arrested in the Suleja Local Government Area of the state.
The commandant also revealed that the suspect was equally found with different receipt booklets belonging to the governments of Kogi, Nasarawa and Kaduna states.
According to Edem, when interrogated, the suspect claimed to have worked as a contract staff of the Niger State Board of Internal Revenue services.
Edem said, “When we contacted the Board of Internal Revenue, they told us that there was never a time they entered into a contract with the suspect.”
However, in an interview with our correspondent, the suspect claimed that he was engaged by the Suleja Local Government Area since 2006 and had remained in business until 2019.
He said, “The Niger State Government Board of Internal Revenue contacted me at the expiration of my contract on December 31, 2019, which they cannot deny and in 2020 they did not review my contract.”
Asked why he issued number plates and receipts to people in other states, Agai said, “I have my colleagues in other states who can help when it is necessary to enable people to travel. I have relevant documents from Niger State Internal Revenue Services in 2019 to show, but I did not have for 2020.
“I am well known in the Niger State Board of Internal Revenue, HOD stickers knew that I am operating with them to increase the IGR of the state.”
The state NSCDC commandant, however, admonished members of the public to desist from dealing with touts and other unauthorised persons to avoid trouble with the law.
He said the matter would be charged to court after investigations.
