President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been called upon by a group claiming to represent the Heavy Duty and Haulage Transport Association of Nigeria to put an end to the illegal collection of millions of naira.
According to Anti-Corruption Ambassador Abayomi Makinde, the group’s leaders, Emmanuel Osigbemeh and Murtala Mohammed, have been using fake presidential authorisation to extort money from truck drivers across the country.
Makinde, who made the documents available to the media, said the National Chairman of the HDHTAN and the Deputy National Chairman relied on a memo, obviously with the connivance of insiders in the office of the SGF, to sneak the document to them for their nefarious activities.
The memo, dated 27 October 2023, and sent to the office of the Inspector General, was signed by the Permanent Secretary, General Services Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
The memo is entitled “Re: Application for Presidential Enforcement on Economic Sabotage of Federal Government Mandate Order -001 on Ease of Doing Business to Achieve Free Flow of Trucks and Haulaging, Monitoring of Our Trucks, Whistle-Blowing on Vandalisation/Looting of Critical Infrastructure, ‘Single Haulage Fee’ (SHF) & ‘Single Inter-State Road Tax Sticker’ (SIRTS) Projects Based on Authorities.”
The letter reads in part, “I am directed to forward herewith the attached letter from the Heavy Duty & Haulage Transport Association of Nigeria dated 4th August 2023 of the above subject for your comment and necessary action.”
Makinde alleged that the group has been collecting ₦10,000 daily from approximately 18,000 members, resulting in significant revenue loss for the Nigerian government.
The Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation has denied giving the group any authority to collect revenue on behalf of the government.
This is contained in a memo availed to the Nigerian Tribune, which reads: “RE: Investigation Activities: Re Ref. No. 57797/S.1/C/T1/194.” It reads in part: “I am to forward herewith, certified True Copy of the letter referenced 57797/S.1/C/T1/194 dated 27th October 2023, and inform that the said letter was made by this office, sequel to a request by the Heavy Duty and Haulage Transport Association of Nigeria.
“The letter only invited the comment of the Inspector-General of Police, to enable further necessary action on the matter. There was, however, no record of such comments being obtained and also, no mandate was given to the aforementioned association by this office.”
Makinde is urging the federal government to arrest and prosecute those involved in the illegal activities, including the association’s leadership, civil servants, and police officers who have been protecting the operation.
He noted that this group had been stopped by the IGP on the intervention of the Imo State governor in 2021 when he received complaints from truck drivers plying the highway in the state.
His letter to the IGP reads in part: “Recall that following my complaint about the unlawful collection of revenue in Imo State, by one Emmanuel Osigbemeh, aka ‘Emma Edo’, you directed that the nefarious and extortionist activity be stopped forthwith.
“In a police wireless message DTO ‘021645/07/2021, this instruction was conveyed by the AIG DOPS Umuahia, who directed that on no account should the Heavy Duty Association or their proxies be allowed to collect revenue on any highway, federal or state.
“The said Emmanuel Osigbemeh, aka Emma Edo, and his nefarious group that engaged in these extortionist activities stopped for a while. However, Emmanuel Osigbemeh, aka Emma Edo, has again resumed his unlawful activities using a different name, Heavy Duty and Haulage Transport Association of Nigeria. Under the guise of this new association, they have resumed their extortionist activities contrary to the directives of the IGP.
“Emmanuel Osigbemeh, aka ‘Emma Edo’, and his association seem emboldened by the letter signed by one DIG Baba Tijjani, dated 24th June 2021. This is contrary to the earlier clear directive by the IGP on this matter.
The IGP should please direct that Emmanuel Osigbemeh, aka Emma Edo, be immediately called to order to desist from his unlawful activities in the state as this may likely cause a breach of peace and security of the citizens of the state.”
The anti-corruption ambassador believes that taking action against those responsible will serve as a deterrent to others and help prevent further revenue leakage.
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