Osun revenue officer docked over alleged N600,000 fraud

A staff of Osun Internal Revenue Service(OIRS), Mr Dare Ogunrinde was on Wednesday arraigned before an Osogbo Magistrate Court for allegedly stealing a sum of N665, 712.

The accused person was arraigned on a 2-count charge bothering on stealing and breach of peace.

According to the Police Prosecutor, ASP Abiodun Fatoyinbo, Ogunrinde, a level 10 officer with the agency received the said sum as a tax from a firm, Orbitwood and Allied Company and refused to remit the amount to government’s coffer.

He maintained that the offence committed contravened section 353 and punishable under section 390(9) of Criminal Code, Cap 34, vol.11, Law of Osun State, 2002.

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Fatoyinbo added that the accused person, by his refusal to issue tax receipt of the amount paid conducted himself in a manner that could cause breach of peace, thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 249(9) of Criminal Code Cap 34 Law of Osun State, 2002.

But, the accused person pleaded not guilty to the allegations preferred against him, just as his counsel, Barrister Musa Abdullahi pleaded with the court to grant his client bail on liberal terms.

Presiding Magistrate, O.A. Ayilara, therefore, granted the accused person bail with N500,000 with two sureties in like sum, in which one of them must be a civil servant of not less than level 10, and must be a house owner with evidence of such. Both sureties must sworn to an affidavit of means.

He thereafter adjourned the case to March 15 for hearing .