by Kolapo Olapoju

Governor of Lagos state, Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, insists that Lagos governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Jimi Agbaje, owes the state a Land Use Charge payment.

According to Fashola, there is a subsisting default in 2009-2012, Land Use Charge payment of N1,629,064.62 by JayKay Pharmacy Limited, a company owned by Agbaje.

Last week, Fashola had accused Agbaje of the owing Land Use Charge, but the latter responded by releasing a post-dated letter of commendation from the state ministry of finance thanking him for fulfilling his civic responsibilities as at when due.

However, Fashola says the letter published was for his personal residence, while the debt he owes is for the location of his business.

Speaking on Sunday, February 1, through his Special Adviser on Media, Hakeem Bello, he maintained: “We consider it necessary to make a response to the rebuttal of Mr. Jimi Agbaje 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.”

“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 and the only way this debt owed to the people of Lagos will go away is if it is paid.”