Ex-Nasarawa Deputy Governor Dameshi Luka Enmeshed In Multi Million Naira Fraud Over Illegal Tax Collection

Rabiu Omaku

Information available to this medium indicates how the former Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, Damishi Luka defrauded the state millions of naira while he held sway as Deputy Governor. As it is this story is coming at a time that the state Board of Internal Revenue is battling with illegal tax collectors rigmarole within Karu axis of the state, this contributed to the meagre IGR generated to the state.

An impeccable source from the State Ministry of Environment confided that the immediate past Deputy Governor, Dameshi Luka Barau and a retired civil servant in the state who is the immediate past permanent secretary, Dr. Monday were the culprit behind the illegal tax awarded to Tacoma Consortium, an expert in tax collection.

It was revealed that the tax consultant generated chunk amount of money to their clients from the shoddy deal of collecting tax from companies discharging gas emission as well waste management at the gateway to the Federal Capital Territory.

A reliably source from the Ministry of Environment opined that said money runs into millions but no single dine was remitted to either the state Board of Internal or the ministry, it took the intervention of Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura to ban Tacoma from erecting illegal road-blocks on highway that constitute nuisance to road-users.

The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Environment, Phoebe Onje Gye-Wado when contacted buttressed that the state Governor stopped the tax collection in Abuja axis by Tacoma due to complaints raised by tax payers.

The stoppage of the illegal tax according to findings did not change the situation rather illegal tax and revenue continued unabated, the ex-Deputy and his acolyte pocketed colossal amount of money to their personal account.

“I’m aware his Excellency Umaru Tanko Al-Makura banned the collection by consultants hired by the ministry, as he added that the tax collection on gas emission and waste management lacks legal backing by the state House of Assembly. The tax on gas emission and waste management would be feasible after the passage of the law, she added.

Also an insider from the state board of internal confided that the collection of tax on gas emission and waste management by Tacoma was heralded by the former Deputy Governor and Dr. Monday, the acting chairman of the Board of Internal Revenue Usman Okposhi when contacted declined comment on the tax initiated by the ex-Deputy Governor and their compliance Dr. Monday, but instead that the chairman expressed anger over the rising spate illegal tax collectors disturbing Karu axis.

“There was a day at Akwanga we slugged it out along College of Education with those people, again in Keffi and Mararaban Gurku area we had problem with them, this even made me to apprehend one of the people at Mararaba, the activities of illegal tax collectors portends great peril to Internally Generated Revenue in the state.

All efforts to reach to the former Deputy Governor prove abortive as he didn’t answer his phone calls put forward to him.