Documents seen by SaharaReporters show that Doherty accused Morenikeji of masterminding anonymous emails circulated in May 2025, which criticised his leadership and called for his removal.
Nigeria’s controversial revenue consulting firm, Alpha-Beta Consulting, widely linked to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has been plunged into fresh turmoil following the forced retirement of an executive and the dismissal of at least four other staff members over alleged whistleblowing.
Documents and insider accounts obtained by SaharaReporters reveal a pattern of internal repression, alleged abuse of power, and deepening leadership crisis under the company’s Managing Director, Akin Doherty.
At the centre of the controversy is the abrupt retirement of Mrs. Olubunmi Morenikeji, General Manager and Head of Operations, who joined the firm in January 2021 and was widely credited for stabilising Alpha Beta’s operations within Lagos State’s internal revenue ecosystem.
Sources told SaharaReporters that Morenikeji’s removal, officially attributed to her attaining the retirement age of 60, was, in reality, triggered by her criticism of Doherty’s leadership style, poor staff welfare policies, and failure to expand the company’s revenue streams.
“She was one of the few executives delivering visible results, but she became a target after openly criticising management,” a senior insider said.
Documents seen by SaharaReporters show that Doherty accused Morenikeji of masterminding anonymous emails circulated in May 2025, which criticised his leadership and called for his removal.
In a statement he made to authorities in June 2025, Doherty, who declared his age as 71 at the time, alleged that Morenikeji was working with other staff members to force him out of office.
“He claimed she was behind the anonymous messages and was happy with the campaign against him,” a source familiar with the matter disclosed.
Ironically, while Morenikeji was forced out, Doherty chose to retain Dr. Kola Fajuyigbe, a General Manager and Head of Business Consultancy, whom insiders described as a “non-performing loyalist.”
Documents reviewed by SaharaReporters show that Fajuyigbe, who joined Alpha-Beta in September 2018 after retiring from United Bank for Africa (UBA) in 2013, has allegedly failed to attract any significant business to the firm.
“Performance is not the criteria here. Loyalty is,” another source said.
Further findings revealed that Doherty himself, now 72, assumed leadership of the company in 2017, the same year records show he was called to the Nigerian Bar under controversial circumstances.
Beyond Morenikeji’s exit, SaharaReporters gathered that at least four staff members, identified as Oluleke, Atolagbe, Ajibade, and Gafar, were dismissed in March 2026 over alleged whistleblowing activities.
The purge, according to insiders, is part of a broader pattern of silencing dissent within the company.
A similar fate befell Mr. Femi Odubiyi, a former Group Head of IT at Dangote and ex-Lagos commissioner, who was reportedly forced out after being perceived as a threat to Doherty’s position.
Odubiyi had been linked to a proposed Chief Technical Officer (CTO) role, recommended by the global consulting firm Verraki, during a 2021 strategy review aimed at repositioning Alpha Beta.
The report proposed transformative initiatives, including fintech solutions, API monetisation, and digital banking frameworks, none of which were implemented.
Strategy Retreat Report – IT Reorganisation Project v2.0 (1).pdf
Instead, sources said, the recommendations triggered internal paranoia.
“The moment leadership felt threatened by structural reforms, everything was shut down,” a source said.
In a controversial move, Doherty reportedly bypassed internal hiring restrictions to recruit Mr. Olumide Idowu in July 2022 on a one-year contract valued at N54 million annually.
LETTER OF APPOINTMENT0001_Dr.pdf
Despite concerns over his competence and the expiration of his contract, Idowu remains in the role years later.
Further documents reveal a pattern of governance failures, including poor communication structures, revenue leakages, and a lack of strategic direction.
A consultant hired to assess the company’s operations in 2024 reportedly resigned after being humiliated for presenting findings that highlighted leadership deficiencies.
“Who you know matters more than competence. There is clear non-compliance with procedures,” the report stated.
Meanwhile, Morenikeji’s ordeal has sparked outrage on social media, with posts on platforms like “Lagos Concern” praising her contributions while detailing her alleged humiliation.
Tobi
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