The National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) President, Chief ‘Yomi Otubela, has been accused of involving in sundry malfeasance by the ‘People’s Congress’. Also, Otubela, whose tenure expires on November 22, has been alleged to be causing a rift among proprietors. But he fired back, saying the ‘People’s Congress’ is an unrecognised group, Adekunle Jimoh reports
The National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) is enmeshed in crisis of confidentce. The crisis reached its peak as a group known as People’s Parliament in NAPPS announced the impeachment of the association’s national president, Chief ‘Yomi Otubela, for alleged sundry malfeasance.
The People’s Parliament also accused Otubela, whose tenure expires on the 22nd of this month, of causing rift within the association. The group alleged that Otubela has perfected a plan to elongate his tenure of office.
The group, which members cut across the states of the federation, during a meeting, said it had passed a no confidence vote on Chief Otubela-led administration.
But, Otubela described the People’s Parliament as an unauthorised group, adding that the group’s accusations were based on baseless speculations.
Organising Secretary of the group, Dr. Rahaman Lateef, claimed that members of the People’s Parliament were defenders of NAPPS Constitution. Lateef added that the group, “smarting from its national Congress organised online, wherein serious issues affecting the association were ex-rayed, addressed and, unanimously pass a vote of no confidence on Otubela, who was accused of abuse of office and flagrant disobedience to constituted authority and breach of constitution of NAPPS”.
Other allegations levelled against the NAPPS president, Dr. Lateef said, include “organisation of kangaroo and manipulated National Congress in flagrant disobedience to the BOTs directive; opening and operating of seven secret accounts in NAPPS name without following due process as dictated by the constitution: criminally alteration and amendment to constitution online and illegal insertion of second term agenda in the so-called amended constitution against the constitutional provision that gives a mandate of one-term of four years; violation of the electoral laws, which stipulates an electoral body be set up three months to the expiration of a tenure.
“Note that Yomi Otubela was sworn in on November 22, 2019, and his tenure of office shall end November 22, 2023… He has just set up Electoral Committee, on October 23, 2023, less than a month to the expiration of his tenure, meaning that he wanted to elongate his tenure beyond the constitutional provision. This is a flagrant disobedience to constituted authority and gross violation of the constitution.”
Other allegations are: “plunging of NAPPS into serious indebtedness without following due process and attempted plunging of NAPPS into unnecessary and unwarranted crisis because of insatiable penchant for power; signing of memorandum of understanding (MoU) on concessionary loan bond with bank, without involving the BOT as stipulated by the constitution and inability of his handpicked consultants to account for two per cent commission charged members on every loan (apart from interest accrued to the bank).
The loan ran to billions of Naira and the commission in flights run to millions of naira; handpicking of the so-called electoral committee without following the nomination of the geo-political zones and flagrant disobedience to the recent BOT members directive and position on his constitutional breaches.
The communique added that “in view of the foregoing, the entire NAPPS Nigeria in the Peoples Parliament, unanimously and so moved for the impeachment of Otubela as its national president for gross misconduct, flagrant violations of constitution and financial recklessness and impropriety.
“He is, therefore, impeached. We hereby warn members of public, bank institutions, cooperate organisations, , government agencies and non-governmental agencies to stop dealing with Mr. Yomi Otubela as the National President of NAPPS, if anyone does that against this advice you do it at your own perils, because the effort is in top gear to report him and his administration to the EFCC, ICPC, IGP & DSS for further investigations and possible prosecutions.
In his electronic response sent to our correspondent, Otubela said that National Executive Council (NEC) of NAPPS Nigeria had taken note of a communique issued by an unauthorised group, the People’s Parliament NAPPS Nigeria, purportedly moving for his impeachment.
He said: “It is crucial to emphasise that NAPPS Nigeria does not recognise the validity of the ‘People’s Congress’ organised by this unconstitutional group.
While the NEC would typically refrain from responding to such entities, we feel compelled to address the communique to avoid any potential misinformation among our esteemed members and the public.
The embattled NAPPS president claimed that “the issues raised in the communique are baseless speculations intended to create divisions among our members and mislead the publi.
“The actions taken by the NEC have consistently received approval and support from the Board of Trustees and the majority of our members throughout the country, adhering to our constitutional provisions.
“Every transaction by the NEC is thoroughly documented with supporting documents, available for scrutiny by our members.
“The NEC embraces an open-door policy, prioritising corporate governance. Claims of secretive accounts or policies within the executive council are purely imaginary. Decisions made by a small group with specific interests cannot override the collective choices of our lawful members throughout the states.
“We advise our members, journalists, and the public to disregard the communique from the ‘People’s Parliament NAPPS Nigeria’ and treat its contents with skepticism.
“I affirm my position as the National President of NAPPS Nigeria. The process of the purported impeachment did not align with the rules of the association. The NEC has addressed all issues raised in the communique through the attached document under the heading.
“NAPPS Nigeria expresses gratitude to the Board of Trustees, NEC, CWC, and all members throughout the states for their unwavering support and contributions to building a united and stronger NAPPS.”
