Over 500 persons were arraigned and convicted for various traffic offences during the joint road check exercise also known as Operation Velvet carried out by the Edo State Internal Revenue Service (EIRS) in conjunction with other security agencies such as the Nigeria Police, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRCS), Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIOs) and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC).
This was made known by the Executive Director, Tax Compliance, EIRS, Prince Felix Isuku during an interview with newsmen in his office.
He said that over 500 persons were arraigned before the mobile traffic courts set up in ten locations across the state for the exercise and were likewise convicted for various traffic offences ranging from cases of fake drivers licence, expired motorcycle and vehicle particulars, over loading, expired and non-possession of fire extinguishers, tinted and covered number plates.
He noted that the road check exercise exposed some vehicle owners for possession of expired vehicle particulars spanning over three to five years. In addition, he said that most drivers were in possession of fake drivers licence a situation he described as worrisome but was assured that the road check exercise was meant to control it. The tax compliance director said the exercise is a continuous one which will come in phases but that the regular checks by other traffic and security agencies will continue.
Describing the exercise as successful, Isuku remarked that most motorists complied with the exercise by visiting the one-stop-shop for vehicle registration and designated driver licence data capturing centres across the state to revalidate their vehicle particulars and also to obtain the genuine drivers licence.
Isuku informed that currently, there exists four drivers licence data capturing/registration centres in Edo State- Auchi, Ekpoma, while two others are in the Benin City metropolis with two more expected within the year. He advised motorists to visit any of the designated places for drivers licence registration which is not done neither by proxy nor the use of passport photographs and cost no more than six thousand three hundred and fifty naira.
Expressing her view of the exercise, an applicant Susan Osaghae who acquired the temporary drivers licence said the exercise is a right step in the right direction and that she followed the application processes all by herself and paid the official fee of N6, 350. She equally advised those still in possession of the fake drivers licence to do the right thing by visiting the approved centres for genuine data capturing. The executive director, tax compliance, affirmed that presentation of tax clearance certificate (TCC) as a condition for the registration of motor vehicle is still in force as it is enshrined in Section 85 (4) (b) of the Personal Income Tax Act (2004) as amended.
