Delta State Scout Council Suspends Commissioner Over Lack Of Transparency, Accountability

***I Am Recognised By The National Body, Onotue Declares

***Says He Is Still In Charge
The Scout Association of Nigeria, Delta State Council, has suspended the State Commissioner, Mr. Billy Onotue, over allegations of lack of transparency and accountability.
The state Secretary, Comrade Agbagoro who spoke to Oasis Magazine, OM, during an exclusive chat disclosed that during a meeting held by the state council on the 20th of January, 2018 in Asaba and presided over by the President, Hon. Justice Marshal Umukoro, who doubles as the Chief Judge of Delta State Council, the decision to suspend him (Billy) was taken.

Mr. Billy Onotue

According to him, a committee was set up in 2016 and 2017 to investigate the sacked state commissioner’s financial reports of the 2015 AGM, which he (Billy) refused to appear before for a fair hearing, after he held that the committee had no power to try him.
He continued: “Billy violates training processes by organizing illegal courses; appoints and removes officers without following due process.
“The amount of the 2015 AGM money in question is N750, 000 and he is unable to account for it.”
He added that the council also mandated the Assistant State Scout Commissioner for Delta North, Mr. Ezeani Okogba to function in acting capacity as the state scout commissioner until further notice.
Reacting to the developments, Mr. Onotue argued that “the whole drama as regard his purported suspension was masterminded by the secretary,” saying that he was not suspended.

Mr. Ezeani Okogba

His words: “For any committee to be set up, it must come from the state executive committee. If by any error the council must set up a committee, the state scout commissioner must be present, not for a group of persons to go to one place without my knowledge and hold an illegal meeting. That meeting is null and void.
“I am not aware that a committee was set up to investigate me. If there was, what was the outcome of the findings of the committee?
“I have the privilege by the constitution to nominate and recommend to the Chief Commissioner of Nigeria the commissioners I want to work with me. Also, the trainings I conducted were duly approved by the Head of the Educational Method in the Scout Association of Nigeria who is in charge of training in Nigeria.”
Speaking about the 2015 AGM which he is alleged to have embezzled some of the funds, he said: “That AGM was the best ever organised. I generated the money that was spent and the financial report of expenditures was presented to the state council, the first time ever.”
Furthermore, he said that Ezeani was suspended on the 20th of November, 2017 for his involvement in illegal activities and was replaced by Rev. Solomon Monyei as the Assistant State Scout Commissioner.
He stressed that the Scout Association of Nigeria still recognizes him as the State Scout Commissioner, adding that he is still in charge.
Speaking further, he said that the state secretary does not have the right to sign his suspension letter.
According to him the problem in the state was a product of the tussle at the national level that however was recently resolved with a communiqué released that charted a way forward for the group.
“The secretary belongs to a different faction from mine and cannot sign my suspension letter,” he averred.
By John Tega