14th March, 2012
Lagos State Pools Agents Association, LASPAA, has complained that the raids and arrest of perpetrators of high commission has been slowed down by the death of Alhaji Abdullahi, the Consultant to Lagos State government who was part of the Joint Task Force set up to enforce the provisions of the new policy guideline to sanitise pools business in the state.
President of the LASPAA, Major Sammy Ogunyebo (retd) said that since the death of Abdullahi, who was popularly called Wazobia, two weeks into the raiding, which had recorded much success, the work has been slowed down. According to the retired Major, though some defaulters were arrested and are facing prosecution, stopping the raids in the absence of a government Consultant has sent wrong signals to stakeholders that the new policy may fail.
“We expect the Office of the Special Assistant on Taxation and Revenue to Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola to have appointed a replacement for Wazobia in the Joint Task Force. We started very well, but the death of the Consultant really dealt us a blow. That is why the LASPAA is calling on the government to get a new consultant so that we can get back on the streets to bring to book those bad eggs in the pools industry in the state,” he said.
The LASPAA boss disclosed that some promoters have been bailing some of their arrested agents. “This is not our agreement when we wanted to start. Promoters should not bail any agent out. This is unethical. LASPAA won’t accept this because it is betrayal of trust. I want to say that any promoter that pays for any agent arrested, is also culpable. It is high time we sanitised this business,” he said.
Sammy warned that any agent or collector caught would be forced to close shop for at least three weeks even if such an agent pays the fine.