A former Lambeth Council worker, who claims he was sacked for exposing racism and victimisation in the former Lambeth Community Alarms Service, alleges the council is trying to sabotage the ongoing public inquiry into the case by not allowing him to give evidence.

Alex Owolade is currently taking part in an employment tribunal into his dismissal which has been adjourned until June 30, the day the public inquiry is due to end.

Mr Owolade is a campaigner for Movement for Justice, which has sent a declaration to the council, signed by Unison and Focus Consultancy the official body overseeing the inquiry asking for it to be extended.

A spokesman said: "Setting up this inquiry is the most important thing any council administration has done for this community and this workforce in many years.

"Stopping it before it has heard Mr Owolade's evidence is an act of sabotage.

"This public inquiry has been hugely successful and very well attended and the council is attempting to put a halt on it before Alex Owolades' crucial evidence is heard, which is a denial of justice at the last minute.

"He was sacked because he led a fight against racism at work and because council management feared his role as a civil rights leader in the community.

"We have called for the inquiry to be extended until late July, after Mr Owolade's employment tribunal hearing ends on July 9, so that his unhindered evidence can be heard by the public."

A council spokesman said the application for an extension to the inquiry had been refused.

She said: "After due consideration, we have decided not to extend the date of the inquiry beyond June 30.

"Although there was a request from the Movement for Justice for a longer inquiry, we have received

no formal request from the panel itself.

"We originally set aside £80,000 for the inquiry, which has risen to £175,000, which is disappointing.

"We want a swift enquiry because we want to get on with considering the council's recommendations and cannot see any reason why Mr Owolade cannot give evidence at the inquiry, despite his employment tribunal."

Unison will give evidence at the next inquiry hearing at Brixton Assembly Room at 6pm on June 4 and June 11.

May 29, 2003 11:00