Reacting to the accusation of defaulting in tax payment, Jimi Agbaje Campaign Organisation, has released a letter showing that the governorship candidate of the PDP was recently commended by the state Commissioner of Finance, Ayo Gbeleyi, for fulfilling his tax obligations.
The governor of Lagos state, Babatunde Fashola, had stated on Wednesday, January, 28, at the eighth Annual Lagos State Taxation Stakeholders’ Conference in Ikeja, that Agbaje was a ‘serial tax defaulter’ and as such, Lagosians should reject him at the governorship election.
Fashola had said: “I know that you have to vote next month, but look at that candidate that will take over from me. And be careful of who to vote for. You will remember in 2007, Jimi Agbaje claimed that he was in Democratic People’s Alliance and later crossed to the PDP. You know that he manages a pharmacy called Jaykay Pharmacy, located at 9, Randle Close, Apapa. His pharmacy has not paid Land Use Charge for 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.”
“They paid in 2013 and 2014 because they discovered that the election would be holding in 2015. His pharmacy owes this state N1, 629, 064.62.”
In a swift response, the Director, Media and Publicity, Jimi Agbaje Campaign Organisation, Felix Oboagwina, refuted the claims, saying his principal was praised by the Commissioner for Finance, Ayo Gbeleyi, for paying the Land Use Charge on his residence.
He said: “Although he founded JayKay Pharmaceuticals, Mr. Agbaje left the directorship of the company in 2006, and this is on record with the state. He is no longer involved in the running of the company. And today, he is not even an Executive Director. We have a letter signed by Ayo Gbeleyi, the Commissioner for Finance in Lagos State, where Agbaje received commendations for fulfilling his tax obligations.”
In the purported letter from the Ministry of Finance in Lagos, Agbaje was said to have been consistent in his payment of Land Use Charge, however, the letter released was post-dated to Friday, January 30, which raises red flags over its authenticity.
The letter said in part: “A review of our payment records from 2011 shows that you have been consistent with the payment of Land Use Charge on the above property (Agbaje’s residence in Apapa).”
“The Lagos State Government wishes to express its appreciation to you on your consistent fulfilment of your civil responsibility and your singular contribution towards the development of the state. We look forward to your continued cooperation in this regard.” see a copy of letter below:
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