By Sylvia Kodilichukwu, Enugu
Enugu State Government has disbanded an illegal anti-scavenger taskforce which has allegedly been extorting unsuspecting members of the public.
The government also vowed to go after impersonators, arrest and jail them in order to deter future criminal behaviours, adding that Governor Peter Mbah’s administration was committed to running a transparent and accountable government.
These were disclosed by Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Professor Chidiebere Onyia, at Government House, Enugu, on Tuesday, March 11, while disclaiming a report that a team called ‘Government House Environmental Taskforce’ was raised by the state government with the mandate to collect revenue.
The SSG, who decried the activities of the illegal taskforce as unacceptable, criminal and antithetical to governing philosophy of the Mbah administration which are transparency, traceability and accountability, stressed that government had already set up an investigative body to arrest and prosecute those parading themselves as government agents in line with the state’s extant laws.
Professor Onyia assured members of the public of transparency in the investigation as there would be no sacred cows, insisting that justice would be served to the satisfaction of victims of the illegal extortions.
“I want the people of Enugu State to know that there is no taskforce that has been set up by the government of Enugu State around environmental matters where their mandate is to engage in criminal activities. We will get to the root of the matter and ensure that justice is served.
‘Govt’ll Uncover Faces Behind Taskforce, Revenue Collected’
“We are going to find out, as a government, who constituted this illegal taskforce. We have tons of incontrovertible evidence as we are investigating who constituted this taskforce and where the revenue collected was paid into,” the SSG added.
He, however, acknowledged that the only taskforce set up by the state government was charged to review some of the options that can help address scavenging activities which had posed threat to the safety of the people, and also to create a structure that allows for legal and recycling process with the Enugu State Waste Management Authority (ESWAMA).
According to him, the government-sanctioned taskforce, approved by the governor, is headed by him (SSG), with other members being the Special Adviser to the Governor on Water and Waste Management, Mr. Andreas Gebauer; Chief Security Officer to the Governor, Mr. Alex Akinlalu; Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Revenue, Adenike Okebu; Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Security, Mr. Vincent Onyeabor; Special Assistant to the Governor on Revenue Mobilization, Sandra George; and Special Assistant to the Governor on Research and Publication, Barrister Ejeh Joshua, who also doubles as Secretary to the body.
Cautioning members of the public to refrain from dealing with any individual or group of persons parading themselves as taskforce on environmental matters, the SSG urged victims of activities of the illegal taskforce to come up with evidence that would help the investigation team.
Disclosing that the government decided to go after the impersonators through the help of petitions it received complaining about the illegitimate taskforce, the SSG said there were credible evidences before his Office which included evidence of payments, bank tellers, and other damming evidence that had indicted some named persons.
He warned the public not to pay money to anyone or any taskforce that claims to be working for the government as revenue collectors, stating that the governor has directed that those funds allegedly collected illegally by the so-called environmental taskforce be recovered immediately.
Assuring entrepreneurs in the state, Professor Onyia said the government would continue to support entrepreneurial behaviour through attractive incentives and conducive environment, adding that such support would be as underlined by the law.
Police Nab Fake Testifier
Meanwhile, detectives from the Legal Section of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the State Police Command, on February 1, 2025, arrested a 32-year-old suspect, identified as Loveth Helen Alo, following a petition alleging that she falsely claimed ownership of a five-bedroom duplex located at WTC Estate, Enugu.
In a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Daniel Ndukwe, the Command said that the suspect allegedly presented the property as hers during a testimony session at a worship center, Zion Prayer Ministry Movement Outreach, in Lagos, the nation’s commercial capital.
The suspect was sighted in a viral video testifying at a Zion Ministry programme, claiming that God had blessed her by the acquisition of the said property.
Footage of the building was displayed in the church during her testimony.
In another viral video, she allegedly stated that she purchased the house for N200 million.
During interrogation, the suspect confessed to the crime, admitting that she acted alone.
She was arraigned on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, before the Enugu North Magisterial District Court on a five-count charge, including obtaining by false pretence with intent to defraud, defamation of character, and attempting to commit a felony by trying to sell the property.
However, the court granted her bail, while the case was adjourned to April 9, 2025, for further hearing.
