See Complete Reasons Why The UNIBEN SUG President and Secretary General Were Suspended- Full Details!!

The President of The Students’ Union
Government, University of Benin, Hon. Obakpolo
Lauretta and The Secretary General, Hon. Jatto
John Ovie have been suspended from office at
the 3rd plenary
session of The Supreme

Parliament held on
December 3 rd , 2016 at LT3, Faculty of Law of
the school

.

Hon. Obakpolo Lauretta (President).

According to our correspondent who was
present at the venue of the sitting, The
President was suspended following several
allegations levelled against her, after which a
vote of ‘no confidence’ was passed.
Some of the allegations include:
That Madam President tore a letter that
concerns the interest of UNIBEN
students’ issued to her by the Supreme
Parliament.

That Madam President has been avoiding
the question on how she got the new
bus in her possession.
That Madam President converted a bus
which ought to be for the union into her
personal property. Evidence shows that
the bus has as inscription: “Office of The
President…” instead of The Students’ Union
Government.
That Madam President has no respect
for the Parliament over her refusal to
show up for any of the sitting so far.
Others include:
‘Alleged’ contempt of the parliament by
Madam President.
‘Perceived’ abuse of office/power by
Madam President.

That Madam President chose to travel
for a wedding ceremony (which was not
in the interest of the students’) over the
third (3 rd ) plenary session.
Reacting to these allegations, on the issue of
the inscription on the bus, The Attorney General
of the union, Hon. Aigbogun John
Chukwuyem said that it was just for the
purpose of getting the papers of the ‘said’ bus
out of government house and nothing malicious
or fraudulent. Speaking further on the absence
of the President from the sitting, The Attorney
General stated that The President was present
at the first plenary sitting. “ However, on the day
of the second plenary sitting, the shuttle drivers
went on strike calling for the increase in shuttle
fare, so madam President was on the field
working to make ends meet and was unavoidably
absent”.

Hon. Aigbogun John Chukwuyem ( Attorney
General)

Hon. Aigbogun further described the suspension
of the President as unconstitutional and a gross
violation of her constitutional right as enshrined
in section 36, (1) of the 1999 constitution which
the Students’ Union constitution is subject to by
virtue of section 3(1) of the SUG constitution.
Section 36 (1) of the 1999 constitution provides
that;
“In the determination of his rights and
obligations, including any question or
determination by or against any government or
authority, a person shall be entitled to a fair
hearing within a reasonable time…” But this
cannot be said of the suspension of Madam
President.

Speaking further, Hon. Aigbogun stated that it
was ‘alleged’ that the President tore the letter
given to her by The Parliament. “The Parliament
before suspending her ought to have heard her
own part of the story. Allegation no matter how
grave can never ground conviction – this is the
position of the law”.
“Nobody knows if she actually tore the said letter.
Even if she did, the parliament should have
summoned her to inquire from her the reasons for
her actions; if it is not excusable, have her
punished”.
What transpired in the third (3 rd ) plenary sitting
according to the Attorney General was witch-
hunting as no member of the executive was
given room to speak even though they were
raising their hands as a sign of indication.
The Attorney General advised that it was high
time the union allow the ‘rule of law’ hold sway.
If not, Nigeria as a country will continue to
suffer legal setbacks.

Meanwhile, the Secretary General was
suspended over his inability to account for the
union properties which is part of his
constitutional duties. Hon. Jatto John Ovie was
summoned at the Parliamentary sitting to give
account of the union’s properties, but it was an
apparent dramatization of wide ignorance from
him; thus, the passage of ‘vote of no
confidence’
Hon. Jatto John Ovie (Secretary General).

The meeting which lasted for over five (5)
hours had in attendance Parliamentarians from
the various faculties, students’, UNIBEN security
and observers (journalists) including
correspondent from CampusGist Nigeria.

Details of “The State of The Union” which was
presented by The Vice President, Hon. Sonia
Obasuyi on behalf of The President and “The
Welcome Address” by the Speaker, Supreme
Parliament, Rt. Hon. Aigbogun Laurel will be
made available in our subsequent bulletin.

SOURCE: CampusGist

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