The Ethiope-East Local Government Council in Delta State have sent out a demand notification with an attempt to extort five thousand naira from POS Operators in the area.

The Ethiope-East Local Government Council launched an account number with Zenith Bank where it directed all POS Operators to send the said amount into.

The account name and number with Zenith Bank is; Ethiope-East Centre Sub-Revenue, 1216489980.

This is included in a need notice served on among the POS Operators in the Oviorie-Ovu Community.

The demand notice was signed by Tega Enakerakpo, Chairman of the Ethiope-East Central Sub-Revenue Committee.

According to the demand notice, the need for money belongs to procedures by the Council to have “appropriate” and “authorized POS Operators in the Local Government Area. The local government has actually chosen to notify you to pay your POS annual functional levy of five thousand naira(N5,000) just.

“Take note, that you are requested within 21 days to pay to the account specified listed below as failure to comply with this demand notification will attract severe legal action against you.”

Following the notice, the Delta State Coordinator of a human and pro-democracy rights group, Take It Back, TIB, Aghogho Ighorhiowhunu said he was ready to consult with the Ethiope-East Local Government Council in Court on behalf of the POS Operators.

This is consisted of in a message sent out to Our Correspondent’s timeline on Facebook.

He discussed that “POS Machine is an instrument of the bank as every POS machine is provided and hosted by a bank.

“Every POS operator is only however a representative of a bank and can not be levied outside the hosted bank.

“Also, the Bank and other Financial Institution Act did not acknowledge the LG to monitor and impose the operations of banking organizations consisting of the operations of POS makers in Nigeria.

“Collection of money under false pretence is a criminal offence in Nigeria punishable by law.”

He also enjoined the POS operators to tackle their companies without exercising any fears.