The Executive Chairman of the Edo Internal Revenue Service (EIRS), Mr. Bankole Balogun, has vehemently denied allegations that officials from his agency were responsible for the tragic death of a 21-month-old girl in Benin City.
Balogun addressed the issue on Wednesday during a courtesy visit from the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo Council, at his office.
Balogun expressed his dismay at the misinformation circulating, stating that the EIRS had no connection to the incident. He condemned those spreading the false narrative, which he believes is intended to tarnish the agency’s reputation and destabilize the state government.
The incident, as reported by Akokoedonewspaper, occurred on March 12th when a commercial driver allegedly lost control of his vehicle at the Ring Road in Benin City, resulting in the death of young Gift Kelly-Esosa. Reports suggest the driver’s loss of control was linked to a confrontation with operatives of the Edo State Public Safety Response Team (PSR), who allegedly attempted to seize the steering wheel while the vehicle was in motion. The vehicle subsequently veered off the road and struck a roadside Point of Sale (PoS) kiosk where the toddler was standing with her mother.
“I wonder why anyone would attribute such an incident to the EIRS,” Balogun stated, emphasizing the agency’s lack of involvement. He offered his condolences to the bereaved family during this difficult time.
Balogun further addressed claims of rising taxes for private schools in the state, clarifying that the EIRS is not authorized to unilaterally increase taxes.
“Taxation and tax law are governed by statute. We cannot arbitrarily increase taxes,” he affirmed. He emphasized that any changes to tax laws are the sole prerogative of the Edo State House of Assembly, with the Governor’s approval. “Only the house, with the approval of the governor, could increase taxes for the state,” he added.
In a separate remark, Balogun alleged that there were a lot of unfortunate political postulations “aimed at bringing down the democratically elected government of the state.”
Earlier in the meeting, the state NUJ Chairman, Festus Alenkhe, lauded the EIRS management for their contributions to revenue generation in the state. However, he also urged the agency to prioritize public awareness and training for its staff to ensure revenue collection is conducted in a manner that is respectful and considerate of taxpayers.
“I appeal to the management to educate its staff members on how best to carry out their revenue drive without hurting the taxpayers,” Alenkhe stated.
