Drama as union suspends, reinstates Speaker

by Yomi Ayeleso And Solomon Odeniyi , Campus Life

A drama played out at the 10th plenary of the legislative arm of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) Students’ Union Government (SUG). Its Speaker, Olakunle Balogun, was suspended for alleged misconduct. Ten days after, the Speaker was reinstated, report YOMI AYELESO (400-Level Business Administration) and SOLOMON ODENIYI (400-Level Mass Communication). 

The 10th plenary session of the legislative arm of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) Students’ Union Government (SUG) started as a serious business, but ended with drama. Penultimate Monday, members of the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) converged for a meeting. But the conduct of the Speaker, Olakunle Balogun, rattled his colleagues, who moved a motion for his indefinite suspension.

The SRC members said Olakunle walked out on them to attend another meeting when important issues were to be discussed. It was learnt that the Speaker called for an adjournment, but the motion was not properly moved. As the Speaker walked out, members moved a motion to suspend him.

In a statement, the Clerk, Christopher Arowolo, said, the Speaker failed to discharge his official duties. This, he said, was contrary to Section 42 (11) and Article VI of the union constitution, which states: “Speaker shall perform all duties incidental to his office.”

Olakunle was said to have walked out during the sitting when issues concerning the welfare of students were being discussed. Members also accused the Speaker of using the name of the union to solicit financial help without the knowledge of the SRC.

Christopher said: “The Speaker has also failed to convene the number of statutory sittings per semester. All these amount to gross misconduct. The Speaker has, therefore, been directed to hand over all union documents and property at his disposal to his deputy.”

CAMPUSLIFE learnt that 13 members supported the suspension of the Speaker, while eight moved against it. Three senators were undecided.

The Deputy Speaker, Emmanuel Akinrele, confirmed that the embattled Speaker “stormed out” of the plenary. He said: “The Speaker, from the outset, has been diligent. Members are not happy with the way he walked out of the sitting, while pressing issues were being discussed. They have punished him by suspending him and the suspension is indefinite. It may last till tomorrow, next week or next month.”

According to the member representing the Male Hall of Residence, Toyeeb Ayobami, the Speaker was frustrated by the pressure mounted on him by members, but said Olakunle should have been patient.

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AAUA alumni opens Ibadan branch

The Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) Alumni Association has opened its Ibadan, Oyo State branch. The ceremony, attended by 40 members was held at Tantalizers Eatery in the Students’ Union Building of the University of Ibadan (UI).

The National President, Mr Patrick Oluyide, said the branch’s establishment was in line with the association’s constitution, which allows creation of chapters in towns and cities across the globe without compromising the conditions for  formation, including a minimum of 20 members.

Presenting the charter of the association to the branch, Oluyide urged the executive members to steer the group’s affairs in line with the constitution.

Oluyide said he was encouraged by the zeal of members and the manner they coordinated themselves. He advised them not to rest on their oars in raising the association’s membership in Ibadan.

EFCC arrests FUTA, AAU students for alleged N16m internet scam

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibadan Zonal Office has arrested five suspected undergraduate scammers for about N16million Internet fraud.

They are four from the Federal University of Technology Akure, (FUTA) and another from  Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba ,  (AAUA).

A statement by the Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren said the suspects were arrested   at  an Off- Campus residence  located at Anuoluwapo Close, Stateline Hotel Road, off FUTA South Gate, Akure, Ondo.

The statement said: “ The fraudsters who are between 20 and 23 years of age include: Adeleke Paul (21),  Adebiyi Tayo Abudu (22) , Akinsanmi Olusola Adeniyi (21), Ogundile Ademola James (23) and Okali Ugochukwu (21).

“The commission got wind of their activities through series of intelligence.  Paul and his co-travelers, who go about with the name Tsunnami Gang and Young Pablo Money allegedly swindled unsuspecting foreigners and others to the tune of N16million recently.

“The suspected fraudsters engaged in fraudulent activities of obtaining money by false pretences through scam mails.

“Paul is a penultimate final year’s student of Building Technology while James and Olusola are both 400 level students of Agricultural Resources and Mathematics respectively.

“Okali is a 200 level student of Urban and Regional Planning, while Adebiyi Tayo is a 300 level Student of Mathematics of the Adekunle Ajasin University. Akungba, Ondo State.

“At the point of arrest, EFCC operatives recovered a 2006, black Toyota highlander with registration number(Lagos)  LND 112 EG,  2010 light- green Toyota Camry (Muscle) registration number (Lagos) AAA 850 EF, laptops, three Apple iphone6 and three Blackberry phones from them.

“Some implicating documents were also found and downloaded from their laptops.

They are to be arraigned in court as soon as investigation is completed.”

AAUA students seek peace betwee between management and ASUU

Worried by the lingering industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), students of Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) in Ondo State have appealed to the management and their lecturers to return to the negotiation table.

The institution chapter of ASUU, through its chairman, Dr Sola Fayose, declared an indefinite strike two weeks ago over the management’s inability to pay lecturers’ outstanding salaries.

Some students, who spoke with CAMPUSLIFE, said the strike is taking negative toll on their pursuits, urging the management to accede to their lecturers’ demand for them to return to the school.

A final year student, Marcus Amudipe, lamented the development, saying students should not be the made to bear the brunt of the action.

He said: “When two elephants fight, the grass suffers. My advice to both parties is for them to dialogue and find a common ground for the sake of students.”

Mary Fagbiye, a 300-Level student, expressed displeasure over the strike, urging the lecturers to reconsider the management’s offer.

Noting that the strike has distorted the school calendar, Mary appealed to the parties to settle their differences and end the strike.