Labinjo’s Group Says AGM Illegal, Unconstitutional
The festering crisis in the Nigeria Ship Owners Association (NISA) peaked yesterday after a large number of its members asked the association’s embattled President; Capt Niyi Labinjo to step down on account of allegation of fraud which is currently being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Labinjo’s Group Says AGM Illegal, Unconstitutional
The festering crisis in the Nigeria Ship Owners Association (NISA) peaked yesterday after a large number of its members asked the association’s embattled President; Capt Niyi Labinjo to step down on account of allegation of fraud which is currently being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In a unanimous decision that was reached at a well-attended meeting of members of the association yesterday at its Annual General Meeting (AGM), they called on Capt Labinjo to go and solve his problems with the EFFC, saying that the allegation of fraud against the president sends a wrong signal to both local and international shipping community.
While five of the members present urged ‘’fathers’ of the associations to wade into the crisis by bringing both factions together, 19 others disagreed, saying that the president needs to clear his name with the EFCC before being allowed to retain his position.
However some members present at the meeting failed to take a position.
However, acting President of the Association, Mr. Aminu Umar while addressing newsmen about the development stated that members have ratified that Labinjo is no more the president of the association, saying that members have urged him to step aside to clear his name with the EFCC.
Umar added that, "I believe that he should have resigned in my own opinion especially when it boils down to integrity, but since he has chosen not to do that then I think it is own position"
"Members have decided and this is what we want to do because members are the ones that are in control and approval should come from them and we are all equal members"
"The members have decided that he steps aside for now and that is the position for now", he maintained.
But in a swift reaction, some members of the Labinjo led faction of the association, including the Lagos Coordinator of the NISA , Captain Taiwo Akinpelumi condemned the Annual General Meeting which yesterday, in Lagos saying that the meeting was illegal.
According to him, the NISA constitution does not give room for such a meeting without the president in attendance.
Akinpelumi reiterated also that NISA constitution does not give room for an acting president when a legitimate sitting president is alive.
"I still maintain unequivocally that there is no faction in NISA because we have a president that was duly elected by the general house,even if the president has committed any form of atrocity, he is supposed to be invited"
"In a situation whereby the president is not incapacitated or unavailable maybe through death , it does not lead to bringing someone as acting president"
He added that certain members were the ones invited for the AGM.
The ship owner further pointed out that before such a meeting should come up, there must be 14 days notice to all members, adding that an AGM is supposed to hold at the national secretariat of the association.
He added that those in attendance at the AGM were confused.
Citing the constitution, Akinpelumi stated that "the AGM of the association shall be held in the month of November every year at a venue and time to be decided by the executive committee and notified to the members by the general secretary and the quorum of the meeting shall be one third of the financial members of the association present at the meeting"
"The emergency meetings of the association or executive committee shall be held as and when deemed necessary to be summoned by the president".
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