Edo State: Oshiomole stumbles again, and again: appoints dubious ex-convict Tax Collector-General
Tuesday, 16 June 2009 16:55 Sahara Reporters, New York E-mail | Print | PDF
Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomole
Governor Oshiomole of Edo state seems to be making the headlines for all the wrong reasons. In addition to his involvement is the now infamous Harvard University "MOU" scandal, the Governor recently appointed an ex-convict, Austin Atakpu-Jima, to head the collection of taxes in the state.
The labor leader turned politician rode into office on a tidal wave of popular voters support. For the voters of Edo state who endured eight brutal years of Lucky Igbinedion’s shenanigans ridden government, they saw Adams Oshiomole emergence as divine intervention and they heaped all their hopes and aspirations on him. They believed that as a former labor leader who was familiar with the common people, he knew their pains.



Few months into his administration, the only noticeable constant in Adams Oshiomole’s administration may be his penchant for serious error. Although there has been no public exposé of his rumored insatiable appetite for the opposite sex, two scandalous events within the space of a few days have now left many wondering if he is any different from Lucky Igbinedion, who is believed by many to have bankrolled Oshiomole’s electoral victory. Oshiomole continues to have a very close relationship with Lucky Igbinedion and other reviled PDP chieftains such as Tony Anenih, who held Edo state hostage for eight years.



Recently, Oshiomole shocked many Nigerians by joining three other well known profligate governors on a trip to Harvard University, a trip that has now turned into a scandal. The subsequent announcement of an MOU between the "Governors Forum" and Harvard University has now been repudiated by the University, leaving Oshiomole exposed, and igniting a firestorm of acerbic comments by Nigerians at home and abroad. Many Nigerians were shocked because they expected wiser judgment from the governor who rode into power on the promise of good governance, commonsense, and fiscal responsibility. 

Even as Oshiomole offered a tepid explanation of his Harvard University fiasco, people are not impressed as he has ignited another firestorm by appointing Austin Atakpu-Jima to be the "Tax-Collector General" for Edo State. By this appointment, the governor is basically handing over the purse strings of Edo state to a man who once spent 18 months in England’s notorious Canterbury jail and was described by a British court as “dishonest” and “incompetent.”

It has emerged that Austin Atakpu-Jima practiced law in England without the requisite license.

Along the way, he threw into trouble and embarrassment, almost everyone who associated with him through an English law firm, Austin Sheik and Co. Among those who ended up before the Disciplinary Committee of the British Law Society on account of their innocent association with Austin Atakpu-Jima were Ned Nwoko, formerly of Nigeria’s House of Representatives and Isabella Iyama Onibudo, an England based duly licensed lawyer of Nigerian descent.

While Ned Nwoko escaped severe sanctions from the British Law Society, Isabella, who found herself manipulated into a relationship with the married ex-convict, found her law licence to practice suspended for two years by the British regulatory authorities. Even when she got it back, it was stringent supervisory conditions established on her practice. It is not known if Austin Atakpu-Jima has repaid the 8,000.00 pounds he borrowed from Isabella while their extra-marital relationship lasted. 

But perhaps Governor Oshiomole was unaware of Austin Atakpu-Jima’s criminal past. If so, that is even worse, because it unveils a Chief Executive who promised the highest standards but who is not even conducting a comprehensive background check before making key appointments, including one to whom he is handing the reins of an entire state’s tax administration. This is the least taxpayers expect from Oshiomole, who must now work harder to rebuild the trust the Edo State people reposed in him.

But now that Oshiomole has made the grievous error of appointing Atakpu-Jima, it remains to be seen if the former labour leader is courageous enough to correct it by immediately relieving the crooked lawyer of the post, particularly if he wants to persuade the people of Edo State that it is not only legal, but wise, to pay their taxes—and to believe “Comrade Governor.”

http://www.saharareporters.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3025:edo-state-oshiomole-stumbles-again-and-again-appoints-dubious-ex-convict-tax-collector-general-&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=18



http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/judgmentsfiles/j1351/Onibudo_v_Law_Society.htm

May be the governor is appointing 'thief to catch thief'

vigasimple:

May be the governor is appointing 'thief to catch thief'

LWKMD!!!

The Yorubas have an adage that says "Its only a thief that knows how to trace the footsteps of a thief a piece of flat rock!"

the man is all noise and nothing more

oshiomole is going to serve 4 years without doing jack shit

Oshiomole is a sad testimony to the fact that most social critics should stick to that - being watchdogs and agitators. Sad.

oyb:

Oshiomole is a sad testimony to the fact that most social critics should stick to that - being watchdogs and agitators. Sad.

the man is always getting oone award from papers or cutting one tape to open one thing or the other i dont know when he willl remember he is suposed to be a governor

Indeed Oshiomole has a notorious reputation for womanizing-no gain saying. He is also one labor leader possessed with consumeropathy. This guy cannot survive the most basic EFCC scrutiny.

His state has been in a complete mess since he took over.Roads terrible. Sends his family abroad regularly for extravagant vacations. You 'all would have noticed he has been swapping his brown khaki for Givenchy suits lately.

They say the beautiful ones are not yet born. He is not the messiah Edo people need. He is just a survivalist dining, wining and wallowing in corruption that will eventually consume him.

So sad for Oshiomhole, its so easy to criticise but once we get into power, its another ball gane entirely. Oshiomhole should get serious with the business of governance

sweetpain:

Indeed Oshiomole has a notorious reputation for womanizing-no gain saying. He is also one labor leader possessed with consumeropathy. This guy cannot survive the most basic EFCC scrutiny.

His state has been in a complete mess since he took over.Roads terrible. Sends his family abroad regularly for extravagant vacations. You 'all would have noticed he has been swapping his brown khaki for Givenchy suits lately.

They say the beautiful ones are not yet born. He is not the messiah Edo people need. He is just a survivalist dining, wining and wallowing in corruption that will eventually consume him.

he will tell u he is a moslem and so allowed to do up to 4 women. the guy na joke

debetmx:

So sad for Oshiomhole, its so easy to criticise but once we get into power, its another ball gane entirely. Oshiomhole should get serious with the business of governance

Let us just wait and see how he plans to move the state forward.
I will like to see if he can do better than OBJ.

nothing wrong in marrying an ex-prostitute
nothing wrong in marrying an ex-robber
the list of bad ex this, ex that is endles
so there is nothing wrong in appointing an ex-con so long as he has turned a new leaf
let's give the man a chance jor![tt][/tt]

untainted:

nothing wrong in marrying an ex-prostitute
nothing wrong in marrying an ex-robber
the list of bad ex this, ex that is endles
so there is nothing wrong in appointing an ex-con so long as he has turned a new leaf
let's give the man a chance jor![tt][/tt]

Given the ex-this-and-that has changed for the better.

I remember when i commented on this thread

https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-121523.32.html

Now i can see.

GWHU!  

Fhemmmy:

Given the ex-this-and-that has changed for the better.

so true bro, let's just "hope" cus, that's all we
nigerians live on these days!

OSH is another Guv'nor riding on a built fake reputation.

Re-Comrade Oshiomole stumbles again and again
Friday, 19 June 2009 06:50 By PRINCE KASSIM AFEGBUA E-mail | Print | PDF
The attention of the Comrade Governor Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole has been drawn to a news report on your website accusing the Governor of appointing Barrister Austin Atakpu as a Special Adviser on Taxation, whom you described in your report as an ‘ex-convict’. We wish to use this opportunity to state the following; that Austin Atakpu is a Special Adviser to the Governor on Taxation and Revenue and not ‘Tax Collector General’ as insinuated in your report. There is a Board of Internal Revenue under the Chairmanship of Ese Owie,Ph.D, an alumnus of Oxford University, UK. Aside from that, he is also a Lawyer and has vast experience on taxation, revenue generation and management. His experience also encompasses international trade law and policy, financial services regulation, insurance and shipping.

Secondly, the Comrade Governor had no knowledge about the alleged conviction of Austin Atakpu in England neither was he aware that Austin Atakpu had brushes with the law in the United Kingdom with regard to conviction. If there is any such evidence of conviction made available to the Comrade Governor, he will apply the necessary logic. Besides, Atakpu has contested election in the past and the understanding would be that he had gone through the screening authorities before he could be certified for election. There was nothing to suggest that he was convicted as alleged at the time of his appointment.

On appointments, the Comrade Governor has repeatedly said that the State would not compromise on merit in recruiting the right personnel to drive development and governance in Edo State. He believes in the ability of members of his cabinet to create the right platform to engage governance and make life meaningful for the average Edo person. He certainly will not compromise on those solemn pledges which he had made when he was being sworn into office as Governor of Edo State. If he possesses the right information, he will act accordingly. Thank you.

PRINCE KASSIM AFEGBUA

CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY TO THE EDO STATE GOVERNOR.

http://saharareporters.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3046:re-comrade-oshiomole-stumbles-again-and-again&catid=116:sr-readers-letters&Itemid=393

Oshiomhole will not and cannot fail; quote me

Baro:

Oshiomhole will not and cannot fail; quote me

absolutely!
empathy is what he needs,
with a hostile house of assembly, hostile LGA chairmen,
hostile elite and even his constituency, the Edo State NLC is in the pockets
of PDP.
men, does he have odds against him?

plus the fact that federal allocation for edo state has dropped
n also, he is paying for billions of naira borrowed by osunbor.
men, i don't envy oshiomhole
but he has promised to sort that out shortly and
that is when u see the "action governor" in him

again, edo people are being instigated not to help
improve the revenue of the state.
detractors are feeding them convulated theories on why they
should not pay their taxes.
osh is trying to shore up revenue base through efficient taxation

I don't know why people can not be patient with this man? people compare him to Fasola in Lagos but the truth is that, you can not compare the amount of revenue generated from both state.

I don't know about those womanizing issues ooooo, that's peculiar to all out leaders anyway. Again, I don't see anything wrong with appointing an ex-con, he might have characteristically willingness for good; rather than those we taught could deliver put a spoil on everything for us.

Edo State: Tax man lynched by angry mob

VINCENT ADEKOYE Senior Correspondent, Benin

The public outcry and resistance that greeted the introduction of the tax implementation and levies by the Edo State government under the administration of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole assumed a frightening dimension yesterday following the tragic death of a prominent tax officer with the Edo State Board of Internal Revenue, who was killed by irate tax payers.




http://odili.net/news/source/2009/jun/18/701.html

The late tax officer whose name was given as Moses as at the time of filing this report was said to have been clubbed to death at the Ikpoba Hill, Benin City, at about noon after he allegedly pushed a commercial motorcycle rider, popularly called Okada, in the way a moving trailer. Eyewitness confirmed that the Okada man died instantly as the trailer crushed his head.

In a swift reaction, Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Affairs and Strategy, Mr. Eric Osagie, condemned the killing of the tax officer and promised that those behind the killing would be brought to book.

It would be recalled that there had been some measures of resistance and reactions from members of the public over the implementation of the newly reviewed taxes and rates by the present administration in Edo State.

The first major reaction came from medical practitioners under the umbrella of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) who embarked on a two-week warning strike to protest the new taxes and rates.

Only last week, members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Ambrose Alli University Chapter, proceeded on an indefinite strike action to register their grievances over the situation.

Yesterday incident came on the heel of a two-week ultimatum given to the Comrade Oshiomhole led government by a group called Edo Indigenes Forum to withdraw the new taxes and rates or face a vote of no confidence by the people of the state.

It was learnt that the tax collector was said to have stopped okada man and demanded for payment of the new rate. It was gathered that the Okada man pleaded that he should be allowed to work for few hours so that he could be able to get the new levy and pay.

"But the man refused and instead held his motorcycle and was pushing him. In the process, the tax man pushed the okada rider into an incoming trailer. The trailer marched his head and burst it, the man died on the spot.

"Then other okada riders in the area mobilized and pursue him, they caught up with him and beat him to death," said an eyewitness, who does not want his name in print.

His lifeless body and that of the okada man were brought to the mortuary of the Central Hospital, Benin after the incident.

Osagie said it was a crime for any persons or group of persons to lay hand on any government official who is on legitimate duty.

"I want to tell you that it remains a crime for anybody to lay hands on any government official who is on duty. This is a responsible government that means well for the people of the state. what we need now is understanding from the people of the state so that the state can move forward. "If you drive round the city now, you will notice some measures of works going on in some of the troubled spots. This is just the beginning and very soon something new will begin to happen," he said.

TheSeeker:

OSH is another Guv'nor riding on a built fake reputation.

Flesh and blood did not reveal this to you.
You are simply the best comment so far regarding the issue.
Ammo wait and see the end of it all

Let us not draw conclusions in a haste. In our olden days, criminals (thieves) were mainly appointed as security personnel in communities for obvious reasons. Why not give 'Mark the tax collector' some time before we crucify him. He might have repented before coming back to Nigeria, who knows!

na hi brother and lifelong partner. its a pity he survived assassination. hard luck.

This 'drunk' keeps governing Edo state from the pages of Newspapers and T.V screens. He is hardly ever around! Hoodlums & Kidnappers have indeed taken over the streets of Benin. . . Time alone will tell!

Most civil rights activists do not make a good leader. Wole Soyinka failed in the Nigerian road safety corp, Bola Tinubu managed to govern lagos state and Oshiomole will not be any different. I am sure Femi falana would have failed Ekiti if he he got his wish as the governor.

No one get to Govt house and be the same again- "every man can stand adversity but when in power man true character is tested"-Abraham Lincoln.

hmmm lets wait and see

Phewww,for a moment I thought James Ibori had landed a job in Oshiomhole's state