The CSOs
WORLD WIDE,
The CSOs
AFRICA,
The CSOs
NIGERIA ,
We,
the members of the above named committee, wish to express our profound
gratitude to you all, for the confidence reposed in us to steer the tide of the
upsurge challenges that visited the CSOs , from the global level down to the
local level, by the allegations of
misappropriation of fund donated for the burial rites for comrade Yinka Odumakin, which allegations lie
at the door steps of comrades Wale Okunnyi , Awa Bamji and Solomon Sobade and
co, allegations, which were so dire and
great , to have left the simple offence
of misappropriation and assume the magnitude of fraudulence and
financial malpractices
BRIEF INTRODUCTION;
Yinka Odumakin, a beloved and active member of Nigeria, West Africa, Africa and
universal CSOs; ebullient in civil crusading for social justice, undoubting in
agitation, unrepentant in the strive for structural adjustment for the goodness
of the downtrodden and indefatigably down to earth in activism, passed on at a
prime age of 55years when his activism was rising to its horizon and pinnacle .
The suddenness of his demise, at a prime age, and when rising to the zenith of
his activistic agitations for the actualization of his dreamed Nigeria nay black race, makes his
exit painful and unbearable to right thinking members of the Civil Society
Organizations, making Friday the 2nd day of April, 2021, a shock to
the whole world in general and to the “brethren” within his primary
constituency, being the CSOs, in particular. Therefore, his was “an extinction
of the ember of a luminous light, glowing towards its brightest, to brighten the corner of his
generation”. By this simple fact, mourning, pensiveness and deep thoughtfulness
are better to be the pictures of what
his demise left behind , particularly so, that he left an aged father behind.
So, then,, the CSOs, the world over, particularly in Nigeria, (including
Messer’s Wale Okunniyi, Awa Bamiji, Solomon Sobade and Co) should be all out to
portray to the whole world the stance that convey dignity, integrity and
nobility as their last manifested respect and honor to Comrade Yinka Odumakin.
Unfortunately, however, some pushed decency, decorum and dignity of the CSO to
the background, used the occasion other sad exit of this great icon of
activism, to corruptly enrich themselves. Painful, Putrefying and Pondering!!!
Be
that as it may, since it is important that he must be committed to the mother
earth, as nature and Yoruba tradition (where he belonged) demands, unlike in
such other climes, like India, where they cremate their dead.
In
the process of “putting ashes for ashes and dust for dust “ his corpse needed
to be transported to his State, Osun, and his home town, Moro. These require
people in attendance and fund to take
care of them and all the necessities or necessaries associated with burial
rites .
Aside
the above, or in addition to same, once ,and however young he might seemed to
be, he was still older than a lot of
people from his immediate family, the extended family the comrades ,his friends
and fiends( foes), who wished to grace the occasion of his burial; for a
positive and otherwise reasons.
As
is the practice in human circles, well-wishers voluntarily make donations of
monies and materials ,directly to the family of the deceased as their
contributions of last respect for the departed soul. The case with comrade
Yinka Odumakin was not different from these natural tendencies and cultural
values of the homosapiens.
A
lot paid condolence visits or visitations to the immediate family and extended
family of the departed comrade Yinka odumakin. In the process they made
donations to ease the burden of expenses for his burial rite.
These donations(to the deceased family),
however big or small by whoever person or personality,, by tradition, culture
and custom belong entirely, completely and wholly to the deceased's
family, and no one however big or small
has the lawful or legal, constitutional,
moral or amoral right to ask ,request or query the deceased family as to how
such fund(s), donated for the burial of
the deceased was/is expended, thus making any campaign of calumny, character
asasination or defamation against the deceased family for collecting funds for
and on behalf of the family and expending same the best way he/ she deems it
fit to be in the best interest of giving the deceased a befitting burial ,without
overlooking the fact that the deceased’s dependants will need something to fall
back on ,after the burial, is a dastard
act of ignobility ,impervious rascality and gangstaristic attitudinal act of
garage touts , calculated at ridiculing the deceased and family , which
commands the wrath of the Almighty GOD , and soul of the departed, making the
actor to lose peace on earth and eternity, in life and death , for it says ;”
THERE IS NO PEACE, SAYS THE LORD , WITH THE WICKED”. This is because doing so
is not only arbitrative; it is infractious and corrosive to the custom and
traditions of the Yoruba.
Be
that as it may, and in the process of performing the aforementioned burial
rite, and particularly regarding who
takes "full" and sole charge
of the whole program for the burial rites, the deceased's family intimated the whole world vide the press release dated April, 21. 2021 they shall ,and had actually take full,
sole and entere charge of the burial rites of their son, and this , to the
exclusion of other (s) ,however close .
The
Essence of this is to Constitute A Caveat To The World at Large, That;
(1) No person, individual or group, should
have idea of arranging another programme
(2)
No body, however, whatever or wherever should engage in soliciting for
donations of money for the sake of the burial rites for comrade Yinka Odumakin
(3)
Anyone that does so does it at variance with the dictates of the Yoruba custom
contained in the adages “oni nkan lan je
ose” and “bi o ba ti se wu ni lan se
imale eni” and “a ki mo oso ju iya
oso.”
The
caveat, which , if properly read and cogitated, translated to a disclaimer of
anyone or body group going about soliciting for fund for the burial of comrade Yinka Odunmakin.
Despite
the caveat or the disclaimer afforested, some crop of the CSOs, in Nigeria, went ahead and solicited for fund and arrogated right of
spending same to themselves without any recourse to the general body of the
Nigerian CSOs ,strictly speaking.
Their
actions, seemed a parallel programme , in apparent contradiction to that of the
family and expressly against the wish, will and aspiration of the decease
family and in a serious tone, perhaps, against the will, wishes desires and
aspiration of the deceased thus
amounting to a great disservice to the
decease family and of the deceased himself ,which might be impregnated. with visible and invisible
consequences .for only the CREATOR knows
whether the dead fights or not
THE EMMERGING SCENARIOS FROM THE
MYSTEREOUS DONATIONS
The conveners of the other program or event
aside from, and parallel to that of the family ,traiding under the aegis ;Memorial Planning
Committee(Hereinafter referred to as MPC) for Odumakin’s burial are Messes
(Comrades) Wale Okunniyi, Awa Bamji and
Sobade Solomon.
They
did a lot for the MPC to get fund and they broadcasted vide social media what
they did, they and would have been at rest by now were it not for the dust
raised and allegations of mismanagement of public fund and fraudulent practices
arising from the income and expenditures analysis they prepared and presented to the ,, and
upon request by the CSO, consequent on barrages of allegations here and there
against them and their MPC.
1.The
fact that they claim(ed) to have represented (though unadvisedly ,or without
express authority by same) the CSOs, made the same to take the gauntet and
frantic efforts to delve into the whole issues
to unearth the bearing ,burden and location of the allegations and dispense justice
quickly and accordingly .
2.Individual
group, like know your rights initiative , an NGO ,through his Convener ;
comrade Segun Adeeko, wrote a petition to the fcid Alagbon.
3.Then,
and finally, the cohesive and unifying platform tagged Odunmakin Accountability
Platform was floated. The forum or platform boasting of men of great repute
amongst the local and global CSOs, like Mike Ezekhome SAN, Femi Falana SAN,
Ebun Ade Onaghoruwa SAN, Buska Buska SAN, Biodun Sowunmi, Barr. Monday Ubanni,
Barr. Osagie Obayuwana, Lanre Arogundade ,Barr. Femi Aborishade, Abiodun Aremu,
Dr Okei Odumakin ,Dr Yinusa Salisu Tanko, Amitolu Shittu, Erelu Oodua Onanneye,
Bayo Ogunleye, HRH Eze Obi , Segun Adeeko,Ade Ikuesan , Soloki Gbenga Moses,
Barr.Taiwo Hassan Bello, Princess Edo, Bola Olanrewaju, Ras Innovator, Elijah
Ajonu Ojo, ,Ola ONI (Junior), Otunba Mark Adesanya and many great others who
are proven ,tested and seasoned Comrades who
have hazarded their lives on the platform of making the world , Afrika
and Nigeria haven of democratization of
governance and complete adherence to the RULE OF LAW & CONSTITUTIONALISM.
It is
this enviable Platform or Forum, with the intention to put a definite cessation
to the ensuing imbroglio arising from the activities of the MPC, and more, to
create an enabling avenue to eradicating such antecedents within the rank and
files of the national CSO , that inaugurated this committed tagged ODUMAKIN'S
ACCOUNTABILITY RESOLUTION COMMITTEE (hereinafter called OARC).
The OARC
was inaugurated on Sunday the 9th day of May, 2021, with following
terms of Reference;
THE MEMBERS OF ORC
Com.
Gbenga Soloki Moses -Chairman
Com.
Taiwo Hassan Bello- Secretary
Com Erelu
Oodua Tinuade Onaneye
Com Elijah
Ajanu Ojo
Com
Princess Edo
Com Ras
Innovator
Com Bola
Olanrewaju
Com
Otunba Mark Adesanya
Com Ola
Oni jnr
In all,
the ORC met 7days for deliberations, being from 10th- 16th,May, 2021 spending between
one and two hourss per day. The last day of the meeting was dedicated for the
Report to be prepared and sent to the OARC for vetting and onward transmision
to the Odumakin Accountability platform(.OAP). The Report was read and vetted
by the memmbers on Tuesday the 18st
day of May, 2021.
THE
FORA OF ORC MEETINGS
Whatsapp conference
and Zoom
THE DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE CONSIDERED BY THE OARC
1,Income/expenditure
Analysis
2.The
Budget
3.Posts.sent
by Awa Bamiji
4.
Resolution sent by Wale Okunniyi
5.The
Press release by the Odumakin Family
THE ORC’S FINDINGS DEDUCED FROM THE DOCUMENTERY EVIDENCE.
1. BUDGET, INCOME AND EXPENDITURE
ANALYSIS.
A
thorough and analytical perusal and considerations of the three documents
reveal the following.
2.FINDINGS
CONSEQUENT ON WALE OKUNNIYI RESOLUTION
SENT BY HIM TO THE COMMITTEE.
The
committee, upon dialectical perusal and appraisal of the Resolution discovered
;
i.
That he, comrade Wale Okunniyi,
accepted total responsibilities of all that emanated from the MPC he led
therefore, and by extension the
allegations of misappropriation,fraud or fraudulent practice oozing from same .
ii.
That there was /is nowhere found in the
resolution, where he was, strictly speaking,
absolved of any of the allegations, in paragraph i, levied against him,
Wale Okunniyi, Awa Bamji and Solomon Sobade.
iii.
That the said resolution’s main
thrust is that the CSO should “avoid washing their dirty linen in the public”.
iv.
That an observer of the
meeting resulting to the said resolution
,attested to the fact that the "veterans" scolded Wale Okunniyi and
reprimanded him and others of mismanagement ,misappropriation etc viz a
viz the MPC
v.
That the fact that:
a.
The resolution does not decide on
guilt or acquittal, which the whole body of the CSOs is interested in, the
resolution is at variance with the doctrine of justice, legality, Rule of law and Constitutionality.
b. The
zoom meeting from which the resolution received its bearing or mandate was
convened by Wale Okunniyi, the ”crown witness ” in the barrages of allegations,
lends a vitiating effect to the
credibility of the resolution as offending the principle of fair hearing and
natural justice i.e Nemo Judex in Causa Sua _”No one should be made a judge
in his
cause (to avoid bias) and Audi alterem partem_that is; “Hear the other
party” (fair hearing) thus escapulating the extent of illegality inherent in
wanting to take the resolution as reality of the present allegations against
Wale Okunmuyi and others.
c. the aggrieved parties are
still agitating for justice ,renders the Resolution nugatory and unacceptable
as the final terminus of the present state of things on the allegations in
question.
3.AWA BAMIJI’S SENT POSTS TO THE ODUNMAKIN’S
ACCOUNTABILITY FORUM AS DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE
The
committee considered the posts sent to the Odunmakin Accountability Platform (
OAP) of which he was an active party, before and during the innaguration and
maiden sitting of the ORC after which he
exited two days of the sitting of same.
Thus lending credence to the fact that he was/ is a subscriber to same
Upon thourough and
copious study of the posts, the following form the findings of the OARC
a.
That Awa Bamiji , in part
,subscribe to have imperfectly handled
part of the event of the MPC
b.
That he directly accused Wale Okunniyi of fraud
c.
That he seems to have been
disgruntled against Wale Okunniyi because the later ,according to him "
messed things or him up"
d.
that when Comrade Bayo Ogunleye asked him to
account for the sum of N250.000:00 and N 350,000:OO he was said to have
personally collected but un accounted for
. ,he avoided him and till date
never responded to same, his immediate exist from the Odunmakin
accountability platform OAP was suspected by many to be linked to the
likelihood of the ORC treating this N600,000:00
e. That
by paragraph (a-d ), Awa Bamiji appears
to have been part of the
misappropriation alleged against MPC .
THE PRESS RELEASE BY ODUNMAKIN’S
FAMILY DATED APRIL 21ST 2021
The
concise and deliberation on the press release give the ORC the following findings:
The
Essence of this is to Constitute A Caveat To The World at Large, That;
(1) No person, individual or group, should
have idea of arranging another programme
(2)
No body, however, whatever or wherever should engage in soliciting for
donations of money for the sake of the burial rites for comrade Yinka Odumakin
(3)
Anyone that does so does it at variance with the dictates of the Yoruba custom
contained in the adages “oni nkan lan je ose” and “bi o ba ti se wu ni lan se
imale eni” and “a ki mo oso ju iya oso.
(4)That
all fund already raised,(by such others , beside the family), by extension, be
returned or sent to the family.
The
caveat, which , if properly read and cogitated, translated to a disclaimer of
anyone or body group going about soliciting for fund for the burial of comrade Yinka Odunmakin.
The OARC invited the following comrades for
interview on issues relevant to the terms of reference.
1. Com
Declan
2. Com
Wale Okunniyi
3. Com
Awa Bamji
4. Com
Solomon Shobade
5. Com
Ade Ikuesan
6. Com
Owonifari Rasheed
Also,
members of the ORC with helpful information, as eye witnesses, were urged by
the committee to specially address the
ORC
These
committee members are:
1. Comrade
Soloki Gbenga
2. Comrade
Elijah Ojo
INVITEES
THAT HONOURED THE INVITATION
The
invited comrades that honoured, in full or in part, the invitation by the ORC
are:
1. Comrade
Declan ; full
2. Comrade
Ade Ikuesan ; full
3. Comrade
Awa Bamji_; partly
OARC’S FINDINGS FROM ORAL
EVIDENCE
From
the testimonies of those that honored the committee’s invitation, the following
facts emerge:
1.
That all the sub committees set
up by the Wale Okunniyi led MPC for Comrade
Yinka Odunmakin's burial were on
paper rather than functional, deliberately made
redundant by the anchors;
Wale Okunniyi & co.
2.
That there was no accommodation
paid for by the members of the MPC. His imperial majesty the Oni of ife had
freely provided about 14 rooms apartment for guests. In fact oral evidence
attested to the fact that many
delegates slept on the open field.
3.
That guests at the event were not
more than 200 as against the 1,000 the
MPC claimed they provided for
4.
That the food was served to
guests once and to selected people loyal to the
anchors of the MPC.
5.
That because of wanton neglect,
and reckless abandonment of delegates from Lagos, many, but for timely
intervention of other older delegates, wanted to mob Wale Okunniyi (who was
alleged to have been drunk around the
time).
6.
That Wale Okunniyi, Awa Bamji and
Solomon Sobade spent part of the fund for personal aggrandizement, for
instance, they lodged in special hotels in Lagos and Ife
7.
That Wale Okunnyi did not attend
the actual burial of the deceased, strange indeed. Then why did he
go ? You may ask.
8.
That the T-shirts, round neck
polo distributed were not more than about 200 pieces, the same goes for the
nose masks ( packed in one carton of
gala)
9.
That Wale Okuunnyi distributed N3,000:00
(three thousand naira) to his apologists about 40 of them for the reason best
known to him
10a.That N20,000.00
(Twenty thousand naira)only was given to a comrade named Declan to fuel and
repaired his pilot car(To carry the T- shirts and other materials to Ife and
Moro with passengers as well) and another N30,000.00(Thirty thousand naira)only
promised him for being ”a devoted
comrade” out of which N20,000.00 Twenty
thousand naira)was paid , he asked them
for the rationale behind the second payment and when he discovered element of
misappropriation, he rejected it.
10 b.That
against the culture and tradition of Yoruba land the MPC refused and neglected,
deliberately, to give a substantial amount of the fund to the deceased family .
11.That
the fact revealed that a dignified Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) counseled
that, since or once the family had made
a press release against any one or group sourcing for fund for their son’s
burial, the already gotten fund(s) should be sent to the family .
12.That
this prudent counsel, supported by another veteran, was tactically avoided by
Wale Okunniyi and others depicting a seeming ulterior motive behind the MPC. Little wonder the
alleged misappropriations
13.That
the genesis of Awa Bamjis grievance with Wale Okunniyi started from the point
the latter allegedly inflated the cost
of the T-shirts procured for the event.
RESOLUTIONS OF THE OARC
Aggregation
of the above findings through the documentary and the oral evidences, results
in what forms the committee’s resolution as highlighted below:
1.
That the aggregation of
misappropriation of the fund collected by or donated to Wale Okunniyi, Awa
Bamji and Solomon Sobade led MPC are
sustainable and sustained by available evidence and facts ,capable of
establishing fraud
2.
That the activities of the MPC
was/is needless based on the press release by the family of the deacesed
3.
That the available facts and
evidence are sufficient to resonate the allegations of financial
misappropriation against the MPC and its anchors ;Wale Okunniyi, Awa Bamji and
Solomon Sobade.
4.
That from all available evidences
and facts,the actual expenditures shouldn’t be more than N2,000,000.00 (two million naira) only as maximum total of
the expenses
5.
That from paragraph 4 above and
going by the actual income and expenditures analyzed by proffessionals for and
on behalf of the OARC, the sum of N7,995,000.00(seven million nine hundred and
ninety five thousand) only could not be accounted for by the MPC led by Wale Okunniyi, Awa Bamji
and Solomon Shobade.
6.
That the sum unaccounted for appears to be the sum allegedly
misappropriated, perhaps deliberately and
not by mistakes ,or.act of GOD.
7.
That these resolutions form the
basis of the following Recommendations by this committee viz:
RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE ODUNMAKI’S ACCOUNTABILITY
RESOLUTION COMMITTEE(OARC)
1. That
Messers Wale Okunniyi, Awa Bamji and Solomon Sobade and co be held accountable
for the sum of N7,995,000 (seven million nine hundred and ninety five
thousand)only unaccounted for by the MPC .
2. That
Messers Wale Okunniyi, Awa Bamji and Solomon Sobade be brought to book for
their involvements in MOC culminating
in the alleged frauds , to serve as
deterrent to others, and of cause , for rehabilitative purposes for them.
3. That
Messers Wale Okunniyi, Awa Bamiji and Solomon Sobade should apologize to the
CSOs worldwide, having taken responsibilities for their actions, as the anchors of the
mismanagement of funds belonging to the
family of the dead or at least the household of the CSOs.
4. That
for the same purpose in paragraph 2 above ,Messers Wale Okunniyi, Awa Bamiji
and Solomon Sobade and others be suspended from
holding any executive position of any CSOs, local or global until purged
of their misdeed.
5. That
Messers Wale Okunniyi, Awa Bamiji and Solomon Sobade be banned from
representing the CSOs in raising fund for any of the CSOs events ,including
such like the upcoming June 12 memorial
6. That Messers Wale Okunniyi, Awa Bamiji
and Solomon Sobade should refund the sum
of N7,995,000.00 (seven million nine hundred and ninety five thousand)only to
the family of Yinka Odunmakin, where it traditionally, customarily ,legally and
lawfully belong.
7
A The OARC further reasons , that
where Messers Wale Okunniyi, Awa Bamiji
and Solomon Sobade and other failed , refused or neglected to act in consonance
with paragraphs (1 and 6)above that:
.i The CSOs has the right to press a report
for fraud and financial misappropriation against them with any of the law
enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute them .
ii.The CSOs
, or through the ORC, in the
event that the concerned law enforcement agency refuses to prosecute them,
institutes a case for mandamus for the
court to compel the agency to prosecute them.
iii.The CSOs can give the know your rights initiative, to pursue its petition with the fcid alagbon
,and or note that the said refusal or neglect above automatically robes any
aggrieved person within or outside the CSO with
the latitude to take legal action(s) against any or all of the three
involved
LASTING
SOLUTION
7B
.That the OARC proactively recommends that steps be taken to obviate the
reoccurrence of these saddening deeds again.
BY THESE MEANS THE COMMITTEE
RECOMENDS THAT :
I.
The CSOs in the country form a
national umbrella body for the CSOs
II.
The said national body to have
six sub bodies, for the six regions, and 36 bodies for the states and
one for the FCT .
III.
The body or bodies should have
board of trustees and principal officers.
IV.
The national body, through the
regional and state bodies, should be responsible for such event like the one in question, select
members with proven pedigree of
dignity to act in their behalf,
who will be accountable to the bodies and queried for any questionable
7C.
that there should be a world press
conference where the positions of the
OARC and the CSOs vis a vis these Report, Resolutions and Recommendations are made known to the world
,which is patiently waiting for same.
Once
again, we do respectfully appreciate the call to service ,and wish to be available,
at any time such an opportunity to serve arises.
Solidarity for ever !
Signed
1. Com.GBENGA
SOLOKI MOSES -Chairman
2. Com.TAIWO
HASSAN BELLO - Secretary
3. Com.ERELU
OODUA TINUADE ONANEYE
4.
Com.PRINCESS EDO
5.
Com.RAS INNOVATOR
6.
Com.OLA ONI
7.
Com.BOLA OLANREWAJU
8. Com.OTUNBA
MARK ADESANYA
9. Com.ELIJAH
AJANU OJO
20TH
May, 2021
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