How Bola Tinubu Used His Governorship Position To Tax Lagos State, Evade Tax

Alpha Beta, a consulting firm, has been dragged into fraudulent activities involving former governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu. The company, alongside Tinubu were said to have also engaged in tax evasion for several years.

Alpha Beta is being used for “massive corruption purposes including tax evasion, bribery of government officials, diversion of funds” and money laundering, This is according to one of the founder, Dapo Apara who sued the company, Tinubu, and a former commissioner in the state, Akin Doherty, to court after a fallout with Tinubu.

How Alpha Beta Was Founded On Tinubu's 'Extortion'

Alpha Beta was founded in 2002 to consult for Lagos State and help improve the state's tax collection.

Apara proposed a consultancy idea to use computarisation to track and record tax collection in Lagos. Apara planned to use his company, Infiniti Systems Enterprises, but it was later agreed to set up a new company, which is known today as Alpha Beta.

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Tinubu, a governor of Lagos State at the time, reportedly stated that the proposal won't be approved unless 70 percent of the equity is issued to one Olumide Ogunmola. The court statement also listed Adegboyega Oyetola (not known if identity is the same with Osun State governor) as one of the equity beneficiaries.

It was further learnt that the ownership of the company was divided between Dapo Apara, Micheal Ogunmola and Tunde Badejo. While Tinubu wasn't a known member of the Directors, he was said to be sailing the ship.

Two companies tied to Badejo, Ebo Consult and Intergrev Services accounted for 15 percent shares each, while Ogunmola's Mono Consulting got 40 percent - Apara got 30 percent.

What Led To The Fallout Between Tinubu And Apara?

Apara was said to be probing the financial records of Alpha Beta as the Managing Partner. His action was condemned by Tinubu who ordered the probe to be stopped., while Apara was relinquished of his leadership position in the company and replaced with Doherty.

The disagreement between Tinubu and Apara grew from there as he claimed in a court statement that Tinubu threatened his life, and when he reported the threat to Police, Tinubu used his influence to frustrate the investigation by the Police.

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Also, Tinubu threatened to use Lagos State agencies to strip Apara of his properties. In the court statement, it was gathered that funds due to Apara were also withheld - the disagreement led to Apara filing a lawsuit, and the court ordered for Tinubu's presence or that of his lawyers - with requested documents - in court.

Part of Apara's claim according to the court order includes an account of all sums due to Apara from 2010 till date; an order tracing all funds and assets due to him from the inception of the company to date; an order of specific performance of certain clauses of the partnership agreement that created the company by extant partners.

Also, the court ordered for payment to the claimants by the defendants, all sums adjudged to be due to him on the submission of the accounts; and payment of 10 percent interest on the sums adjudged to be due to him.