In a rarely seen display of guts against the usually oiled state machinery, Lagos-based medical doctor, Adegbola Dominic of Santa Maria Hospital, Egan-Igando has urged Inspector General of Police (IGP) Muhammed Abubakar to immediately reopen and prosecute criminal allegations made by late Chief Gani Fawehinmi against former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
With recourse to the Freedom of Information Law, Dominic, a Lagos indigene, also sought vital information from the state government on the contractual agreement existing between the state and Alpha Beta Consulting Limited, allegedly owned by the former, for the purpose of collecting taxes and internally generated revenue on behalf of the state.
In the letter dated 24th October and addressed to the Lagos State Commissioner for Finance, the Lagos State Board of Internal Revenue Service, the Office of the Lagos State Auditor–General, the Special Adviser on Taxation and Revenue and the Lagos State Attorney General, he wrote that as a citizen of Nigeria and indigene of Lagos State, he was aware of the contractual agreement between the Government of and Alpha Beta Consulting Ltd.
“And whereas sometime in 2011 by virtue of a statement issued by Mr. Bola Sodipo, Special Adviser to the Governor of Lagos State on Taxation and Revenue, the existence of a Contractual Agreement with the Company as tax and revenue collector on behalf of the Government was confirmed; but added that the Government of Lagos State would terminate the services of the Company by February 2012,” a part of the letter read.
“And whereas the Government of Lagos State now boasts of an IGR or about N40 billion every month translating into a commission of N6 billion due to and being paid to the Company every month, which sum I consider unfavourable and outrageous to me as a tax payer and Citizen of Lagos State.
“I, Dr. Adegbola Dominic wish to know how the taxes, revenue, finances of the State accrue, are managed, disbursed etc. In Lagos State and do hereby apply, to you, by yourselves, agents, servants etc. to access and request to be made available to me by you, all information, CTC’s of Files, records, Contract Agreements/Documents, in respect of the said Contract/Agreement entered into between the Government of Lagos State and, the Company, Alpha Beta Consulting Limited, mandating the Company to assess and collect on behalf of the Government all Taxes and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) due, payable and paid by the Government and its agencies and all the commissions due, payable and paid by the government to the Company and received by the Company since the announcement of the Contract/Agreement for my perusal and scrutiny pursuant to Section 2, 3(3)m, o, 5, 6, 7, 9, & 10 of the Provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2011 (F.O.I) as Replicated/Domesticated in Lagos State of Nigeria. My request is basically to let me know the monthly returns of the taxes and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) generated, accrued, collected and paid to the Government and commissions received from Government or its agencies by the Company since inception of the contract.”
He stated that under Section 5 of the F.O.I, “the above information, records, file, agreements/documents etc. shall be made available to me within 7 days after the application is received by you and I am ready and undertake to pay all appropriate fees in your duplications and transcriptions of the said documents to meet my request.”
However, the government, Special Senior Assistant to the Governor on Justice Sector Reforms, Office of the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Olanrewaju Akinsola, in a reply dated 5th November 2012, declined to make the demanded documents ready arguing that the Freedom of Information Law was a federal law that is not binding on the state.
