MICHAEL AKINOLA
Based on a recent incident at Anthony Bus Stop in Lagos State, Dr Robert Uzu,
the CEO, Ruzu Herbal Products and Services Limited, has lamented that the alleged criminal activities by officials of the VIO are worst than that of armed robbers.
An embittered Dr Uzu narrated, “On Monday, 26th May, about 9:00 am, precisely three days ago, our company’s branded Toyota Sienna conveying our products to Idumota was intercepted by the officers of VIO at Anthony bus stop. Presumably, the head of the VIO team SN Matthew (Mrs.) requested for the vehicle’s particulars and they were presented to her. After careful evaluation, she noticed that the hackney permit was missing, and she alerted our driver”.
“Luckily, I was escorting them to Idumota because the driver was just employed a couple of weeks ago and has not mastered Idumota road signs. I talked with S.N. Matthew, that I never knew it was not included in the particulars because we renewed the particulars through the VIO office in Abuja.”
“I then called the VIO officer, Mr. Chris, who spoke with S.N Matthew and informed her that the hackney permit was actually among the particulars, but due to network issues, he couldn’t print it out. He assured her of sending the hackney permit to her when he gets to the office. She accepted but insisted that our driver had to bring the vehicle to their office for proper documentation. The driver did accordingly.”
“Officer S.N. Matthew seized the vehicle and demanded that we must pay a fine. She took my driver to a nearby corner close to a POS merchant and asked him to settle with N20,000 and go, otherwise, the vehicle would be confiscated.”
“Our driver informed her that the man who was discussing with her is the CEO of the company, and he will brief him. I didn’t argue, I only requested the State Government’s account details so that we can pay for the fine. But she said we should pay through the POS woman at the cornerpiece. The account details were that of a personal account and I didn’t find it funny. Therefore, I refused to pay.”
“That was the beginning of our nightmare. She kept us there and refused to talk to us. By 11:00 a.m., I went back to her and again pleaded for the account details because we were running out of time. It was one, Mr. Timilaye, who is in charge of the issuance of the carriage permit, that assisted us to log in to the website to complete the payment process.”
“We then presented the proof of payment voucher to her. She came up with another condition that has to do with tax payee showing that the driver is not invading tax. She referred us to another woman, who demanded the company’s proof of payment of tax for the staff, including the newly employed driver. “
“I tendered her request and informed her that the driver resumed work two weeks ago and that his name could only be reflected for next month payment. I even tendered to her the driver’s letter of appointment. At this time, it was already 3:00pm. I requested that she should advise me on what else to do and she said I should pay for the driver personal tax and that the bill is N60,000 and I must pay it through the same POS woman at the cornerpiece. I asked her why N60,000 when the driver’s monthly salary is N45,000? She kept mute.”
“Having evaluated what I was about to lose if I allowed the vehicle to stay overnight coupled with the fact that we have goods worth N2,000 000. I paid N60,000 to the POS woman, including N700 charges.”
“The VIO officer then released the vehicle and asked our driver to come back the following day to collect the tax certificate. Our driver collected the tax certificate yesterday only to discover that only N40,000 was remitted to the State Government’s account.”
“They still succeeded in using another avenue to collect the N20,000 initially demanded as bribe, of which my refusal landed our driver and myself into bully, intimation, all maner of abuse, insults, and unnecessary delay. I went through hell in that terrible environment because I refused to bribe them.”
“I am therefore, appealing to the State Coordinator of VIO to train his officers properly. Those VIO officers I saw were purely area men and women, with questionable characters and absence of sound mind.”
“They should pay me back my N20,000 because I have briefed our company’s lawyer. Attached are proofs of payment of the fine, tax of N60,000 to the POS woman, including the driver’s appointment letter and proof of staff payee we presented to them.”
“We need a better Lagos. Those men and women don’t deserve to be given state uniforms” Dr Robert Uzu concluded.
