Agbaje a tax defaulter, Lagos government insists

The Lagos state government is insisting that Jimi Agbaje, the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is indebted to the state in terms of tax payment.

Babatunde Fashola, the governor of Lagos, criticised Agbaje last week, referring to him as a “tax evader”.

But Agbaje debunked the allegation and presented a letter of commendation that he received from the state government after remitting his land use charge as evidence that he was not indebted to the state.

However, Hakeem Bello, special adviser to the governor on media, issued a press statement on Sunday, saying Agbaje was getting the issues mixed up.

“We consider it necessary to make a response to the rebuttal of Mr. Jimi Agbaje in some newspapers to the assertion by His Excellency, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, Governor of Lagos State on the subsisting default in Land Use Charge payment of N1,629,064.62 by JayKay Pharmacy Limited on the above mentioned property,” he said.

“For clarity, the issue at hand has to do with Mr. Jimi Agbaje’s business premises at 9, Randle Close, Apapa and not 1, Bombay Crescent, Apapa GRA, for which he was commended.

“The letter issued by the Commissioner of Finance is in respect of 1, Bombay Crescent, Apapa GRA, which was published in Mr. Agbaje’s response and is proof of Government’s acknowledgement of payments made on that property at 1, Bombay Crescent, Apapa GRA which presumably is his residence.

“The Land Use Charge on the business premises of JK Pharmacy at 9, Randle Close, Apapa, was not paid for 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. As Governor Fashola acknowledged, payment was made for 2013 and 2014 on 9, Randle Close, Apapa, perhaps in preparation for the election.

“The payments for 2009 to 2012 remain outstanding and unpaid and those monies go to the Local Governments to fund primary education and primary Healthcare.

“The amount due and unpaid is N1,629,064.62. The only way this debt owed to the people of Lagos will go away is if it is paid.”