Ondo revenue service issues statement after officials clash with traders

By Boye Oyeyemi

A heated altercation between revenue officers and local business operators in Akure has sparked public concern after footage of the confrontation surfaced across social media platforms.

Following the widespread circulation of the video, the Ondo State Internal Revenue Service released an official statement to clarify that the disagreement had actually been resolved amicably prior to the clip emerging online.

Addressing the incident directly, the Executive Chairman of the agency, Bayo Rojugbokan, explained that the selective footage failed to capture the full context of the event and consequently created a misleading impression of the encounter.

Furthermore, the revenue authority strongly refuted assertions made within the video regarding arbitrary levies, emphasising that all statutory tax collections remain strictly governed by existing legislation and approved rate schedules.

To prevent further confusion, the agency advised taxpayers to ignore unverified claims regarding their financial obligations and instead seek direct clarification from official tax stations across the state.

Warning against the deliberate dissemination of falsehoods, the leadership cautioned that individuals attempting to incite public distrust or undermine lawful revenue collection would face appropriate legal consequences.

Meanwhile, officials reassured the business community that state collection activities are structured solely to support regional development through voluntary compliance rather than through the intimidation of commercial enterprises.

Concluding the statement, Rojugbokan reaffirmed the commitment of the service to total transparency and accountability, promising residents that all revenue officers will continue to operate strictly within the boundaries of the law.