candidate, Jimi Agbaje of tax evasion. While speaking at the 8th
Annual Stakeholder Taxation Conference in Ikeja yesterday, Jan. 28th,
Fashola said Agbaje's pharmaceutical company, JayKay pharmacy has not
paid the state govt four years Land Use Charge, LUC, tax.
"LUC is ground rent and tenement rate as they were consolidated. I
know that you have to vote next month but look at that candidate that
would need to take over from me and be careful of who to vote for. You
will remember that in 2007, he (Agbaje) claimed that he was in DPA and
later crossed to 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. Let us do that mathematics to see how many facilities that
funds would have provided in our hospitals and stationary in our
schools. But this was the same person who was complaining that the
state government spent three percent of its budget on education. Local
Government is responsible for the management of the primary schools
and yet he has withheld their taxes. This is the man who wants to be
your next governor. And I will advice you that you avoid deception and
tax evader," he said.
Jimi Agbage reached out through his Jimi Agbaje's media director,
Felix Oboagwina and replied the Governor on the issue at hand.
Read his reply below:
"Mr. Jimi Agbaje expresses surprise at this rather personal and
unprovoked attack against his person by Governor Raji Fashola. Just in
January, the Commissioner for Finance sent a personal letter to Mr.
Agbaje, commending him for his faithfulness in payment of taxes
relating to his residence.
"It is a curious contradiction that several days later, the Governor
himself would express sentiments clearly in contradiction to the
spirit and letter of that voluntary and unsolicited commendation from
the state.
"Are they feeling the heat of Agbaje and PDP's impending victory in
the state, or how does one explain this recourse to personal attacks
recently embarked upon by chieftains of APC?
"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, Honourable Commissioner for
Finance in Lagos State, where Agbaje received commendations for
fulfilling his tax obligations. The letter from the Ministry says: "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."
It will be recalled that the Governor only about two weeks ago said
that Agbaje was too old to be Governor, although the PDP Candidate is
only 57.
This fresh outburst amounts to another futile attempt at mudslinging
by a desperado group that is up against a formidable opponent, and it
has only succeeded in staining the source.
Lagosians should be wary of APC and its bag of tricks.
FELIX OBOAGWINA
DIRECTOR OF MEDIA AND PUBLICITY TO MR. JIMI AGBAJE, PDP GOVERNORSHIP
CANDIDATE FOR LAGOS STATE
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