I've never engaged on illegal revenue collections or withhold government funds- Okoro

By Eche Nwaobasi

Chief Obiora Okoro, the chairman of Ozomagala building materials dealers association Modebe family Plazas Ozomagala street that was recently removed by the Anambra state government on reasons yet to be ascertained, has stated that before his removal he has never steal government revenue or indulge in collection of illegal revenue or any other corrupt practices as been falsely labeled against him by some unscrupulous government officials who want to tarnish his hard earned good image among the traders and union customers.

Disclosing this while addressing journalists in his business office at modebe family plaza Ozomagala street odoakpu Onitsha south LGA yesterday, Okoro who was visibly pained by these allegations  noted that he don’t know why people will be so wicked as to be manufacturing  malicious lies or  other weird talks to paint him black.

Emphasizing that such blackmail is wickedness at its peak as well as malicious act done in bad faith, he stated that he has never try to engage in corrupt practices as the entire traders who know him know his integrity and know how he has been piloting the affairs of the union and can attest for his integrity.

While Maintaining his innocency further, he pointed out that his union account is always well handled and is open for scrutiny adding that he operates an open door policy to justify this, he showed newsmen a total of two hundred and forty one pieces of Anambra State internal revenue tickets out of three hundred pieces which he said was issued to him by government to collect revenues at the rate of seventeen thousand and five hundred naira per a trader which he has collected and kept for onward remittance to government but was withheld because of his ongoing problem with the government stressing that he is ready to remit it to the government when call upon to do so to demonstrate his innocence.

Said he, “am ready to submit the abandoned money if am call upon to do so, am calling Gov. Chukwuma Soludo to please urgently intervene and ensure justice. I did not appropriate any government revenues, or engages in illegal revenue collection, we abide by government standard, all these allegations against me are done by evil enemies of progress of our union who are bent to remove me and impose themselves on traders but traders are resisting it,"