EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH THE SPEAKER, FATSSSA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, MR UMOKE BASIL.

“The house will sit at the slightest opportunity and with the cooperation of Mr. Jones find a way to demystify the whole puzzle constitutionally…” - Mr Basil Umoke, Speaker FHR.

On Monday, 22nd May, 2017, the FHR alongside some other principal officers moved to freeze the Association's account. Can you tell us the circumstances surrounding this move?

After over a week of futile efforts to reach the suspended president, Mr. Shola Ogelekeme, by the executive arm as well as the legislative council, and amidst fear, suspense and worry I called for a meeting comprising of all  fatsssa organs including the press on may 21, 2017. At the meeting which held at the faculty's lecture RM 036, we arrived at the decision to freeze the association's a/c momentarily until we had a clearer picture what was going on. We also agree to go to the bank in group the following day may 22,
2017 after taking turns to sign the letter requesting the bank(fcmb) to freezes the a/c. As agreed, the next day, we went to the Bank and had the a/c frozen.

What informed the decision to freeze the account?

The past antecedents of the suspended President who had on a number of occasions violated the provision of the fatsssa constitution on financial issues. Examples are the withdrawals of N198000 as against the N98000 approved by the house. An offence for which he is under burden of penalty. Secondly, the President withdrew another N323000 without approval. On this he was summoned by house before his sudden disappearance. The decision to freeze was consequent upon these antecedents in order to prevent any further illegal activities on the account.

So it was a preventive measure...

Yes it was meant to be a preventive measure

What's the position of the constitution concerning unapproved withdrawal/spending?

Depending on the gravity, there are censure, suspension, impeachment, and/or report the defaulting member to the higher authorities in case, the faculty management

What if there's plausible excuse for the withdrawal?

The constitution makes provisions for emergencies, in which case, the speaker must be informed, or his deputy but certainly there is no provision for withdrawals without approval or consent of the house

Mr Jones holds that the legislative arm delays hence his unannounced withdrawals.

That's not true! On May 2 or 3, 2017, the approved six (6) executive budgets in one sitting, how is that a delay. We have approved about 3 different budgets for the sports director. The president presented a cost he incurred before his actual budget was presented, and the budget monitoring and control committee sat only once on it and the approved at the following sitting. The first the president presents his administrative budget was the day it was approved with an upward increase of his budget by the house

Was a budget ever presented to the house regarding package or shirts?

Never! There was NEVER a mention of such budgets by the president or any executive member. I remember during my manifesto, I talked about urging the executives to do most of the events in first semester. This is I planned before all these issues. If the president wanted to procure any item(s) I would certainly had made sure that received quick attention and treatment

So what is the way forward?

The house will sit at the slightest opportunity and with the cooperation of Mr. Jones find a way to demystify the whole puzzle constitutionally. His cooperation and sincerity are key to the way forward.

Thank you sir

It’s a pleasure