Abuja, NIGERIA — The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) has maintained that the embattled former president Bola-Audu Innocent and his cohorts remained expelled from the Association and therefore, cannot speak either for or interfere in the affairs of the Union.
In a press statement issued in Lagos today (Wednesday 19th April, 2023), and signed by the ASCSN Secretary-General, Comrade Joshua Apebo, stated that the National President of the Association Comrade Tommy Etim Okon PhD remains and will lead the Union to the next National Delegates Conference where a new National President will emerge.
According to the statement, “we therefore, urge our teeming members throughout the country and the general public to discountenance the misinformation and disinformation in the social media where an expelled member of the Union, one Bola-Audu Innocent is claiming to be the National President of the Association.”
The Association recalled that in 2021, Bola-Audu and three others were accused of alleged human trafficking and exploitation of vulnerable persons and arraigned in a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Maitama, Abuja by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).
The Association said the recent FCT High Court’s acquittal and discharge of Bola Audu of criminal matter had nothing to do with the ASCSN.
“As far as we are concerned, Bola-Audu was expelled by organs of the Association for anti-union activities and he filed a suit at the National Industrial Court (NIC) in Abuja to challenge his expulsion.
“It is, therefore, surprising that Bola-Audu Innocent is now claiming in the social media to be the National President of the Association when the matter he instituted at the NIC is being adjudicated upon by a court of competent jurisdiction,” the union said.
The leadership of the Association urged members to remain calm as Dr. Okon remains the National President while Bola-Audu Innocent stays excommunicated.
In a telephone conversation, National President Okon said he was more focus on delivering his promises to the association from my first day in office, insisting that no amount of shenanigan and maneuvering by excommunicated members to alter his priority of building a stronger ASCSN and empowering and protecting Nigeria’s Senior Civil Servants. He said his priorities are inextricable.
However, he explained that court’s discharge and acquittal of Bola Audu, a former member of the Association, was entirely in a matter of criminal charges by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), not his expulsion from the Association which is still pending in court.
Congratulating of Bola Audu for the relief, ASCSN President however, said some facts need to be on record. Court may have discharged and acquitted him, but he remained expelled from the Association due to his inability to conduct himself properly under the decision of the NEC.
He said Bola Audu has long been expelled from the Association through due administrative process which was followed in reaching that decision.
According to the National President, “it is also important to note that Bola Audu, in the first instance, was not primarily expelled from the Union because of the criminal charges by NAPTIP against him. Bola Audu was expelled from the Union because of his disregard for and disobedience to the decision of NEC; his expulsion was as a result of his unruly and unconstitutional and anti-union actions which is unbecoming of a Public Officer.
“It’s important to recall that following the criminal charges against Bola, the CWC/NEC quickly took appropriate steps towards redeeming the image of the Association. In doing this, due process and the public service rules were applied as is applicable when a Public Officer is facing criminal charges.
“But in the spirit of comradeship, Bola Audu was advised to “step aside” as President of the Association pending the determination of his case in the Court.
“It is also important to recall that the decision by NEC for Bola Audu to step aside while I steps in as Acting President was taken in good faith for the best interest of the Association.
“Very unfortunately, this NEC decision was brazenly disobeyed and resisted by Bola Audu using all sorts of crude and aggressive means. No member of the Association is bigger than the other including the President.
“Unfortunately, Bola who should have known better brazenly disregarded the decision of NEC and acted against the Public/Union Rules by attacking the Association and it’s structures and bringing it to public ridicule.
“Importantly, he may have been discharged and acquitted by the Court, but he remains expelled from the Association due to his inability to conduct himself properly under the decision of the NEC,” he concluded.
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