According to a news report from This Day, the management of the Kwara State Internal Revenue Services (Kw-IRS) reiterated its commitment to the collection of personal income tax and other revenues in compliance with relevant federal laws, ensuring no ethnic or religious discrimination.

In a statement issued in Ilorin by the Head of Corporate Affairs, Funmilola Oguntunbi, the agency affirmed that there is no ethnic, religious, or group discrimination in its daily revenue generation activities.

The statement refuted allegations of victimisation of Igbo traders, which were published by an online platform (not This Day), as baseless and aimed at inciting ethnic sentiment for undue public sympathy. The agency emphasised that these accusations against Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and Kw-IRS are falsehoods.

The statement read, “The attention of the Service has been drawn to a false, malicious, and inciting publication on 31st July 2024 by one online publication, International Centre for Investigative Reporting, against the personality of the Governor of Kwara State and the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service respectively.

“We are tempted to believe that this false narrative was at the instance of some members of the Kwara State Igbo Traders Association (KWAITA), which has recently instituted a legal action against the Service on 12th July 2024 on the same subject matter before the Kwara State High Court.

“In suit KWS/308/24 – NWANKWO SYLVESTER & 90 ORS VS KWARA STATE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE & 2 ORS. This action of twisting the facts through a media publication is, therefore, in bad faith.

“In response to the deliberate misinformation, we clarify as follows: Contrary to the unfounded allegation contained in the publication, at no time did the Governor of Kwara State explicitly or impliedly direct the Service to victimise or act in a particular way towards anyone based on their religion, ethnicity, or other personal social identity.”