The Community Development Chairman of Rumuokoro in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, Ikwunga Samuel has denied collecting money from illegal oil refiners to allow such activity go on in the community.
The State Commissioner for Special Duties, Emeka Onowu had accused Mr Samuel of collecting money at the detriment of residents.
This was while inspecting the level of damage caused by fire over the weekend, due to activities of illegal oil refiners at an uncompleted building, in the area.
He said if the community chairman and the youth president were not accomplices to the illegal business, they would have reported it to the relevant authorities.
But the Chairman, Mr Ikwunga said such activities are not allowed in the community as they arrest and report such persons to security agencies.
He advised the public to ignore the allegation and sympathised with all those affected by the fire.
