NEWS
Tinubu-Linked Alpha-Beta Consulting Rocked by Leadership Crisis as Top Executive Forced Out, Four Staff Allegedly Sacked Over Whistleblowing
Fresh controversy has engulfed Alpha-Beta Consulting, the revenue consulting firm widely linked to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, following the forced retirement of a senior executive and the dismissal of at least four staff members over alleged whistleblowing activities.
Documents and insider accounts obtained by SaharaReporters paint a picture of an organisation battling a deepening leadership crisis, allegations of abuse of power, internal repression, and growing discontent among employees under the leadership of the company’s Managing Director, Akin Doherty.
At the centre of the unfolding controversy is the sudden retirement of Mrs. Olubunmi Morenikeji, the company’s General Manager and Head of Operations.
Morenikeji, who joined Alpha-Beta Consulting in January 2021, was widely regarded by insiders as one of the key figures responsible for stabilising the firm’s operations within Lagos State’s internal revenue ecosystem.
Although the company officially attributed her exit to her attainment of the mandatory retirement age of 60, insiders insist that her departure was motivated by her outspoken criticism of the company’s leadership, staff welfare policies, and what she allegedly described as management’s inability to expand Alpha-Beta’s revenue base.
A senior insider told SaharaReporters, “She was one of the few executives delivering visible results, but she became a target after openly criticising management.“
Documents reviewed by SaharaReporters indicate that Doherty accused Morenikeji of masterminding anonymous emails circulated in May 2025, which criticised his leadership and called for his removal from office.
In a statement reportedly made to authorities in June 2025, Doherty, who declared his age as 71 at the time, alleged that Morenikeji was collaborating with other members of staff to orchestrate a campaign aimed at forcing him out of office.
A source familiar with the matter disclosed, “He claimed she was behind the anonymous messages and was happy with the campaign against him.“
The development has also drawn attention to what insiders describe as inconsistencies in management’s approach to performance and personnel decisions.
While Morenikeji was compelled to leave the organisation, Doherty reportedly retained Dr. Kola Fajuyigbe, General Manager and Head of Business Consultancy, whom some insiders allegedly described as a “non-performing loyalist.”
According to documents reviewed by SaharaReporters, Fajuyigbe joined Alpha-Beta in September 2018 after retiring from the United Bank for Africa (UBA) in 2013 but has allegedly failed to secure any significant business opportunities for the company.
One insider claimed, “Performance is not the criteria here. Loyalty is.“
The report further stated that Doherty, now said to be 72 years old, assumed leadership of Alpha-Beta Consulting in 2017, the same year records reportedly show he was called to the Nigerian Bar under circumstances described as controversial.
Beyond Morenikeji’s departure, SaharaReporters gathered that at least four staff members identified as Oluleke, Atolagbe, Ajibade, and Gafar were dismissed in March 2026 over alleged whistleblowing activities.
According to sources within the company, the dismissals form part of a broader effort to suppress dissent and discourage employees from raising concerns about the company’s internal operations.
The report also recalled the case of Mr. Femi Odubiyi, a former Group Head of Information Technology at Dangote Group and former Lagos State Commissioner, who was reportedly forced out after management allegedly perceived him as a threat to Doherty’s leadership.
Odubiyi had reportedly been recommended for the position of Chief Technical Officer (CTO) during a 2021 strategic review conducted by the global consulting firm Verraki. The review proposed a wide range of reforms aimed at repositioning Alpha-Beta Consulting, including the introduction of fintech solutions, API monetisation, and digital banking frameworks.
However, insiders claim none of the proposed reforms were implemented, alleging that management viewed the recommendations as a threat to the existing leadership structure.
One source said, “The moment leadership felt threatened by structural reforms, everything was shut down.“
The report further alleged that Doherty bypassed existing internal recruitment procedures to employ Mr. Olumide Idowu in July 2022 on a one-year contract reportedly worth N54 million annually.
Despite concerns reportedly raised about his competence and the expiration of the contract, Idowu is said to have remained in the position several years later.
Additional documents cited by SaharaReporters reportedly revealed wider governance challenges within Alpha-Beta Consulting, including poor communication systems, revenue leakages, weak corporate governance, and an absence of clear strategic direction.
The report also claimed that a consultant engaged in 2024 to evaluate the company’s operations eventually resigned after allegedly being humiliated for presenting findings that highlighted deficiencies in the firm’s leadership.
According to the assessment, “Who you know matters more than competence. There is clear non-compliance with procedures.“
Meanwhile, Morenikeji’s reported treatment has continued to generate reactions on social media, with posts on platforms such as “Lagos Concern” praising her contributions to the company while detailing what supporters described as her alleged humiliation during her exit from Alpha-Beta Consulting.
Source: SaharaReporters