UI: Suspended FATSSSA President, Jones Ogelekeme (Janglas) speaks" I am the devil in this situation, but I am not the only devil"

At the FHR seating that was held on the 31st of July, 2017. The suspended President, Mr Jones Ogelekeme, who among other executive members had been summoned to appear before the house in order to abreast the situation which has brought the association into disrepute among which were claims that the suspended President absconded with over a million naira of the association's money coupled with his absence saw new revelations being revealed.

It could be recalled that the suspended President had been accused of carting away with over a million naira of fatsssaites' money. He, however, disclaimed this allegation explicitly saying that he had issues with SARS off campus and that his absence triggered unfair assumptions and his unconstitutional suspension. According to him "if at all I find myself in SARS custody, it was because of what I did outside, not what I did on campus. It concerns no man". He further stated that "I came back, I told you what I passed through, if you were not convinced, go to SARS. Of course, school has done that, management has done that, they have gone there, they have confirmed. So if you also want to confirm, go there to see if your president actually ran or truly he was there".

Prior to the dawn of new revelations, the suspended President walked out of the FHR sitting at about 11:40 am while the sitting was on.  He insisted that he would say nothing until other executive members arrived stating that his executive members linked all money they couldn't account for to him. Meanwhile, an honourable of the house, Hon. Ayoade raised a point of order on whether the suspended President was there to dictate to the house or explain himself. This the suspended President reacted to by stating that the situation on ground was political and also insisting to not talk until his other executive members arrived.

While the suspended President was away, a motion was raised by Hon. Wale Adenuga that the former treasurer be exempted from the issue of a money amounting to #323,500 signed by both the former treasurer and the suspended President without the approval of the house. This motion was seconded by Hon. Azeezat. However, there was a counter motion by Hon. Ayoade on the basis that it is not meant for the house to determine who is guilty or who is not, that every Fatsssaite had a penny in the money.

At about 12:05 pm when the suspended President returned, he confirmed the fact that #323,500 signed by both the former treasurer and himself had nothing to do with the treasurer as he withdrew the money and also disbursed the money for production of shirts. Hence, the former treasurer should not be brought into it. The earlier motion moved by Hon. Wale was then subjected to a vote which led to the vindication of the treasurer.

When asked on how and why he signed and cashed a cheque of over a million naira. The suspended President responded that truly the cheque of #1,298,000 was signed alongside the Financial Secretary. He, however, stated that he was surprised that even after his return the Financial Secretary still denies signing such cheque, noting that he had probably denied earlier thinking he had absconded. He noted that the cheque was signed for expenses ranging from the package, fresher's orientation and picnic. According to the receipt and invoice presented to the house, the package which included books and table calendars cost #650 for 1300 copies and #250 for 1300 copies respectively amounting to #1,170,000.

Furthermore, the suspended president confirmed to have paid the contractor a million naira with the balance of #170,000 to be paid on delivery. That is about 85% of the total money. He also said that out of the #298,000 remaining, #100,000 was used for freshers welcome with the hope that it would be refunded by the faculty. Left with #198,000, the suspended President went on to explain that he recommended a contractor to the social director for the picnic, but he declined, saying that he had his own contractor that could handle it.

SHARING FATSSSA MONEY AMONG EXECS AND CALLING IT ‘GAIN’

There were a number of issues raised as regards how money exchanged hands and how few members of the executive mismanaged and misappropriated fatsssaites' money. One of which included the joint agreement by the trio of the suspended President, the Social Director and a Fatsssaite Tolu Gbadero, said to be the contractor of the picnic to overstate the money for pepper soup from #50,000 to #80,000 on the invoice. According to the suspended President, "from #30,000 when the event was over, I counted #17,000 and gave it to the social director, if I am a bad President, I wouldn't have given you more than #3,000 and there is nothing you will do”.  He further stated that he didn't dash him but it was money from the gain. The VP according to him was also given #2,000 as ‘gain’ knowing that she single-handedly handled freshers’ welcome. Meanwhile, he stated that the foul play was not meant to be revealed if others were able to manage the situation. In his words "the wrongs were not supposed to be revealed, but at this point, it has to be revealed because everyone was looking like innocents in my absence, everybody was claiming Janglas was the devil in my absence". The suspended President also pleaded sorry for how his actions have tarnished the image of the association. He further begged the house to review the suspension of the Financial Secretary as the rate of the suspension was getting too much and that such may not help the association.

receipt of payment for paackage as presented by Jones Ogelekeme

While the Financial Secretary also claimed that about #61,000 outstanding from past administration for shirts were either converted or refunded, the suspended President disclaimed such saying that it was not up to that. The house thereby agreed that they work together or individually to give a financial report in the next sitting. Also, although the house gave the duo of the suspended President and Financial Secretary the benefit of the doubt on almost all issues, they were unable to present reasonable documents to back up most of their transactions.

The sitting which lasted for about 8hours saw motions upon counter motions. The house observed a short recess for about 20minutes at 3:25 till 3:50. Hon. Dorcas moved a motion for the indefinite suspension of the Financial Secretary, it was seconded by Hon. Azeezat. Despite the counter motion moved by Hon. John Bosco and seconded by Hon. Christian, the Financial Secretary eventually earned a suspension from the house. Another motion was moved by Hon. Adenuga that the suspended Financial Secretary be asked to remit #132,780 into the association's account within the next 48hours. The said money had been in his personal account for the past months. The same Hon. moved a motion that the Social Director also remits the sum of #17,000, the said ‘gain’, to the association's account within the next 24hours. A motion was also moved by Hon. Azeezat that the President should remit #41,000(#30,000 borrowed by the suspended President and #11, 000, shared money). The motion was seconded by Hon. Valentine. The motion was however countered and modified by Hon. Christian that although the President should return the money another petition should not be forwarded at his failure to oblige knowing that he has a lot hanging on his neck.