Tax consultancy firm, Alpha Beta LLP, has denied allegations levelled against it by its former Managing Director, Dapo Apara, adding that he in fact diverted N6bn from the company.

Apara had in a writ of summons before a Lagos State High Court accused the company of being controlled by a former Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu, and making mysterious payments of over N20bn to several private accounts.

Responding on Friday, however, Alpha Beta said in a statement by its Managing Director, Akin Doherty, that Apara was the one that was culpable as he had diverted about $5m during his time as managing director by inflating a contract which was worth about $300,000 and then diverted a separate N6bn to personal use.

The firm said it had reported Apara’s alleged fraud to the appropriate authorities but he had refused to show up and rather remained in Dubai.

In the statement titled, ‘Alpha Beta: Facts of the Matter’, the firm said Apara was an aggrieved ex-employee who was bent on tarnishing the image of the company after being sacked for financial impropriety.

It read in part, “The fact is that Dapo Apara began making his untrue allegations in the aftermath of his removal as Managing Director of Alpha Beta for fraud and unethical practices. While he was MD, Apara used his position to siphon huge sums of money from the company including but not limited to fraudulently converting $5m; money allegedly used to pay for cloud based services that were eventually discovered to be worth less than $300,000.

“Mr. Apara, who was a signatory to all the bank accounts of Alpha Beta from inception until his removal, received all his payments and entitlements until June 2018 when he was removed after his fraudulent misconduct was discovered.

“In July 2018 further evidence of his fraudulent and unethical practices was uncovered, including the revelation that he converted approximately N6bn belonging to Alpha Beta to his personal use.

“This fraud was reported to the authorities and Mr. Apara was subsequently invited to return to Nigeria from his hiding place in Dubai to render account. To date, he has refused to do so. Instead, Mr. Apara chose to embark on an aggressive smear campaign seemingly in an effort to blackmail us into ending the investigations into his misconduct.”

The firm said Apara’s allegations levelled against Tinubu were specious and diversionary.

“The uncorroborated allegations against Asiwaju Bola Tinubu by Dapo Apara, in particular, show that he is bent only on creating sensational headlines to deflect attention from his own criminal activities,” it said.

According to Alpha Beta, Apara has filed many suits in Lagos and Abuja on the same matter, engaged in arbitration, the police, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and other agencies.

It said in all that time, he has steadfastly refused to honour all invitations by the authorities to return to Nigeria and account for the huge funds he misappropriated.

The firm stated that although it had not been served with the court summons, it looked forward to the opportunity of publicly presenting the full picture of Apara’s misconduct, deceit and fraud and to have the matter resolved by the court once and for all.

Alpha Beta monitors and reconciles tax on behalf of the Lagos State Government for a commission, a contract it has been executing for over 15 years.

thesicilian:
Tinubu defends Tinubu ...

Responding on Friday, however, Alpha Beta said in a statement by its Managing Director, Akin Doherty, that Apara was the one that was culpable as he had diverted about $5m during his time as managing director by inflating a contract which was worth about $300,000 and then diverted a separate N6bn to personal use.
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NGpatriot:





The EFCC received his petition and responded to his petition already.

The conclusion is the same thing, his allegations are all hearsay and word of mouth, even me as a layman reading his court papers and allegations, there's nothing in his allegations worth paying attention to because his allegations are all hearsdays, not facts, no proof of anything, just hearsay, EFCC can not go to court or prosecute based on hearsays.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Saturday said a petitioner, Dapo Apara has not substantiated his allegation of a N100billion scam against .

It said although the investigation of the firm has been ongoing, it will not act on hearsays.

The anti-graft agency, however, said its doors are open if Apara has any further proof with regards to his petition.

The EFCC, which made the clarifications in a statement by its Acting, Head, Media and Publicity, Mr. Tony Orilade said it was false to claim that it has not acted on Apara’s petition in the last one year.

The statement said a reporter sent apologies for not reflecting EFCC’s part in the story.

The statement said: “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has noted a story in THE PUNCH newspaper of Saturday, July 13, 2019, titled: Osinbajo’s firm linked to company fingered in alleged N100bn Alpha Beta scam.

“While not denying the fact that such petition was received on Alpha Beta by the Commission last year, preliminary investigation has shown that the petitioner did not substantiate the allegation contained in his petition.

“For the records, the Alpha Beta investigation is ongoing and we have nothing to hide over the matter.

“If the petitioner has any further proof with regards to the petition, our doors are wide open.”

The EFCC said it does not conduct its investigation on hear says.

It added: “As a tradition, we do not deal on hearsays, we act on facts and raw data.

“The Commission will not allow anybody to drag its name and reputation into the mud for ill-motive reasons.


https://thenationonlineng.net/alleged-n100b-contract-petitioner-cant-prove-allegation-against-alpha-beta-says-efcc/

Maxymilliano:


Definitely, there must be some iota of Truth in Apara's allegations.

So Alpha Beta had to wait till the erstwhile MD, let the cat out of the bag before coming up with this lame counter accusation as defence after 2 whole years ?

The bullion van thief can do better than this.

southniyikaye:
Ok
Corruption in Nigeria is almost at its peak.
It will get to a time that all these criminals will bleed

According to Alpha Beta, Apara has filed many suits in Lagos and Abuja on the same matter, engaged in arbitration, the police, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and other agencies.

It said in all that time, he has steadfastly refused to honour all invitations by the authorities to return to Nigeria and account for the huge funds he misappropriated.

Racoon:
Akin Doherty is Tinubu's lackey in ABC so it is expected to defend the interest of its principal.EFCC should act on the petition & do a forensic investigation to unravel the corruption in this company.

Apara provided evidence of the financial illegalities committed by Alpha Beta Company.So where are the evidence to back up your counter accusations.Why is the EFCC still foot dragging on this man's petition?