Bassey Ita-Edet, Special Adviser to the Cross River State governor on Toll Collection, has alerted the Cross River public over attempts by unknown persons who have in the last 24 hours, forged a government press release, with intent to steal revenue accruing to the state government.
Independent investigations carried out by www.calitown.com show that, Ita-Edet’s office, concerned about the level of multiple tax approaches used to steal government funds in the state, had sought government approval to tackle this anomaly.
First, his office issued a press statement to this effect, causing the release to be broadcast on local radio station, HIT FM, Calabar, this past Saturday. In the statement, Ita-Edet stated clearly that, the state Internal Revenue Service, IRS, was the only office, authorized to receive revenue on behalf of the state, advising further that government agencies must desist from issuing revenue contracts on behalf of the IRS, as it duplicates revenue collection in the state.
Barely 12 hours after the press release was broadcast, a poorly written document was put in circulation, purportedly signed by the SA, reversing the information widely broadcast on radio. Further checks revealed that the forged document appears to have been circulated to create confusion that will benefit only, the perpetrators of this anomaly.
“I have to raise this alarm so that we will all understand that some unscrupulous persons are trying to undermine the sincere efforts of His Excellency. This will help us all understand that the press release broadcast on radio, carries the authentic position of the state government and my office will work to ensure that those stealing government revenue, will desist from doing so”, Ita-Edet told www.calitown.com, when contacted.
“This is a challenge my office will surmount and I make bold to say that I didn’t author the poorly written and fraudulent document. Security agencies have been put on alert and we will get to the root of this fraud; it is something we are committed to doing, God on our side”, he concluded.