Oyo state government has suspended the Executive members of Bodija international market for their alleged involvement in illegal collection of monies from the traders.
The suspension according to the government is to allow for proper investigations to be conducted into the allegations and unravelled the individuals behind the plot.
The decision of the government was disclosed by the Caretaker Chairman, Aare Latosa local council development area (LCDA), Ibadan North, Samonda, Prince Adewale Osoniyi on Friday.
Osoniyi who said the government was moved by the series of complaints on the illegal collections insisted that the arrangement was just concluded to begin the collection of the annual revenue from the traders by July.
He added that the preliminary investigation and arrest of the perpetrators made so far indicated the involvement of the executive members of the traders association.
He assured that the vacuum created by the suspension of the executives will not cause any rancor adding that the essence is to allow the government do a thorough investigation into those involved and who is getting the money.
Osoniyi said “Some people are involved in collecting illegal monies from the traders. There was a little fracas today (Thursday) between some of our daily revenue collectors and the market traders union.
“We have been hearing the rumour that we have sent people out to be collecting money on behalf of the state and local government, particularly on behalf of the Governor and the local government chairman.
“But, truly, nobody has sent anyone to collect any revenue from the traders for the government.
“The mode of payment that people know is still what we are using. Traders only pay into government bank account, they only show teller to government task force. And by the grace of God, we are starting the revenue drive from the first week of July with the collection of ground rent and we have not sent anybody to go and collect any money on our behalf yet.
“We are suspending the executives of Bodija market traders association with immediate effect. The decision is to allow us make some investigations after which we will call them back and reach an agreement as to their operation, but for now, they remain suspended.
“We have made some arrest of those collecting the revenue, claiming they are from the government and they are currently at Bodija Divisional Police Station and we are following it up.
“Those we arrested include some executives of Bodija market traders Association. They colluded with some people and started extorting money through illegal collections of revenue in the name of the government and this we are resisting.
“The suspension does not translate to locking the market down. We are only suspending the Executive members from parading themselves and running the affairs of the market.”