War among Brothers
Members of the Radio Television Theatre and Art Workers Union of Nigeria have called in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to investigate allegations of fraud against its leadership over a N25 million land dispute. Chiemelie Ezeobi writes
When members of the Radio, Television, Theatre and Art Workers Union of Nigeria (RATTAWU), came together to buy a land, they did not foresee any hindrance in the way of their ambition. Today however, while some have gotten their own allocation, some others were left in the lurch owing to the alleged misappropriation of funds for the purchase of the said land.
With the sum of N25 million allegedly misappropriated, the 38-year-old body which was inaugurated on November 1, 1977, at the British Council, Ibadan, Oyo State, and registered as the 25th of 37th industrial union affiliates of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), is now in quagmire.
Explaining the bone of contention, one of the executive members simply identified as Khalitha said, "on December 12, 2013, I was privileged to attend the stakeholders meeting at the Voice of Nigeria (VON) premises.
"And that was the first time I met Comrade Adedeji Okubeyejo (the former Chairman of the State Council of RATTAWUU) and Mr. Itotowa Godwin (the former Treasurer of the State Council) of RATTAWUU. The two people were present at the meeting, narrating their roles in the collection of people funds for the land.
"After that session, another meeting was scheduled for December 17, 2013 and on that day, the committee was set up to look into the affairs of the land and was inaugurated and it was tagged: “reconciliation committee”.
"And the committee comprised two persons (stakeholders of the land) from all the chapters in the various agencies of RATTAWUU that contributed to the land project.
"The reconciliation committee was borne out of a consensus reached at the stakeholders meeting which was held on Thursday, December 12, 2013 at the conference room of VON in ikoyi.
"Two persons were nominated from the chapters with emphasis on the professional accountants or those with accounting knowledge or experience preferably.
"This was to enable them reconcile the payments into the State Council’s Accounts and also to enable the state council ascertain the actual number of people who have paid for the land from the various chapters and the amount paid into the council's account so far. "It had been observed that there has been a misunderstanding between the leaders of the Union (the past and present Chairman of RATTAWU) State Council.
"Hence the stakeholders decided to broker peace by forming a forum and resolve the land issue to enable those who paid for the land have their land allocated to them.
"Appointees were then instructed to come for the next meeting which was slated for December 17, 2013, with all the relevant documents and evidence of payments through cash and salaries and the remittances made in respect of the land to the state council.
"The meeting was chaired by comrade Benson Ayomike from News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). At the meeting, Mrs. Cordelia C. Uchendi was appointed secretary of that Reconciliation Committee and I was the representative of National Museum with Mr. Adewale Ayodele, both of us from museum were nominated to represent the museum."
She said the terms of reference was to; "Look into the statement of account from 2009 – 2013, which is the account A and B. Account A. which is for shake-up dues and account B which is for the land project.
"To determine how much has been paid into the various accounts for the land project and to look at other records and documents relating to the Land issue eg cash payment through salary schedules and deductions.
"To ascertain that the total account (remittance value) received tellers and the bank record and to ensure that all cash payments in respect of the Land were lodged into the bank," she revealed.
She said another meeting was scheduled for December 19, 2013, with the hope that all documents would be made available.
She said, "It was resolved that the key stakeholders of the accounts- the past and present chairman of RATTAWU- South West region be invited to the meeting I.e Comrade Prince Okubeyejo and Comrade Godwin Itotowa.
"The next meeting eventually held in NTA Tejusho premises as requested by Comrade Itotowa Godwin and he hosted the meeting in that venue which happens to be his office.
"He addressed the committee by reinstating his conditions for peace to be achieved and thus the three conditions given by Itotowa, was that the committee should appoint another chairman as he is not comfortable with the chairman in position.
"He stressed that since he has been the chairman of the stakeholders meeting from inception, that no success has been achieved. He would want an unbiased chairman who would be neutral in the resolutions.
"That a recording machine be made available to record the proceedings of the meeting to avoid distortion of facts and records in the meeting due to past experiences.
"That the venue of the meeting be moved from VON premises to another neutral venue either National Museum or NAN. He stated his reasons for these conditions as several moves of peace in the past have been jeopardised due to some factors which have warranted the above conditions.
"The issue of the removal of the chairman, Benson Ayomike. to vacate the position was debated and eventually it was resolved that he should step aside and he did. Mr. Omenai Innocent from NTA was then appointed as the chairman and he presided over the meeting.
"Thereafter, Itotowa apologised for any inconveniences this request for a change of chairman must have caused us in the meeting.Then Okubeyojo affirmed his position in the land issue and then submitted all the documents relating to the land.
"He also submitted documents containing the names of the people that have been allocated the land, the amount collected, the agencies they represented and the total amount for the land." "Then, Itotowa rose up to say that the Lagos State Council of RATTAWUU was happy with the resolve to reconcile the land issue and the dispute. He promised to get back to the house as soon as he gets to the State Council to get the bank statement to the secretary in National Museum on Tuesday, December 24, 2013.
"But he failed to bring the bank statement and from that time till January 5, 2014, which was the date scheduled for another meeting, Itotowa refused to cooperate and that resulted to the committee writing a letter to him giving an ultimatum of seven days failing which the stakeholders will stage a protest match to the media houses.
"After the expiration of the ultimatum, the reconciliation committee and the stakeholders embarked on a peaceful protest to NTA 2 Lagos Network Centre on Tuesday, February 4, 2014.
"The RATTAWUU Stakeholders requested that Itotowa, account for about 145 Plots which our members have struggled to pay for through monthly deductions from their meager salary."
She noted that after much attempts to get what was due them that they approached the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the International Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and the Anti-Fraud unit of the Nigerian Police.
She continued: "After that, we petitioned EFCC, ICPC and Police Anti-fraud Unit. Eventually, we got the attention of EFCC and they immediately swung into action.
"The EFCC quickly went to the bank and collected all the relevant information on the land project account. It was from the investigation carried out by the EFCC that we discovered that the total sum of N30million had been allegedly mismanaged by Itotowa.
"It was also discovered that the total sum of N24.7million contributed by the stakeholders in National Museum has been hijacked from the accounts by Itotowa and the treasurer, Comrade Owolabi.
"The EFCC brought to our notice all the monies lodged into the account, when and how it was paid. The withdrawals from the accounts was exposed by the EFCC and the amount was traced to Itotowa.
"There was a conference between Okuboyejo and Itotowa with the reconciliation committee members and the EFCC, and Itotowa prostrated, pleading with Okuboyejo, but up till there is no resolution.
"It is pertinent and worthy of praise that since March, 2014 till date that EFCC has been handling this matter, no dime has been paid by the petitioners (Reconciliation Committee members) and yet this matter has been given all the required attention without which we would not have known the facts of the matter.
"It is regrettable to note that the union executives have continually deceived members by supporting the fraudsters and aiding and abetting it and continually, they have been attacking Okuboyejo.
"But thanks to God and posterity for the opportunity we had to take over the case to EFCC, otherwise the union would swindle our money without any recourse."
Currently, the case is still with the EFCC as was witnessed to by THISDAY during one of their meetings in March where all the stakeholders were invited to sort out the mess and how the modalities for payment would be agreed on.