The Nation Newspaper

Tag: misconduct

  • Surveyors caution agents on misconduct

    Surveyors caution agents on misconduct

    The Association of Estate Agents of Nigeria (AEAN) has been urged to caution its members against misconduct.

    It also urged agents to imbibe  ethics and operate according to the laws of the Estate Surveyors and Valuers Board of Nigeria (ESVARBON).

    Chairman, ESVARBON, Mr. William Odudu, gave the advice at the first yearly conference of AEAN in Lagos.

    It  had as theme “The public perception of estate agency practice in Nigeria”.

    According to Odudu, the conference, was timely considering that the practice of estate agency by estate agents, estate brokers, property companies, home finders, among others, had been haphazard and fraught with all shades of unethical conducts and unhealthy rivalries.

    “Estate agency business became an open field for the floatsan and jetsam of the society with poor public esteem,” Odudu said.

    He said ESVARBON can penalise any erring estate agent who fails to comply with its regulations.

    Besides, he said, the body would produce a register of estate agents or companies.

    To check estate agents, he said registered estate agents are expected to attend Mandatory Continuing Professional Development (MCPD) workshops, training, seminars and conferences. This is to enable them develop and maintain capabilities to perform competently within a professional environment. To this end, credit points will now be awarded to operators for attendance and participation in approved MCPD, as this will form part of the prerequisites for the yearly renewal of licence for registered estate agents.

    “The business of estate agency is no more business as usual. Today’s annual general conference carries three points and you require about 20 points to qualify for annual licence renewal,” Odudu explained.

    Similarly, the Chairman, Conference Planning Committee, Mr. Boye Ajayi, noted that in the last one year, members of  have undergone series of training programs, workshops and seminars.

    Ajayi said the attention being directed at estate agency practice  had raised the hope that issues of  regulation and control of the sector were receiving attention.

    Specifically, he noted quackery  as serious.

    “It is as serious as fake drugs! Most times, we have read in the newspapers the incidence of fake agents who made away with their clients’ funds,” he said, adding that the conference had helped to focus on re-inventing and re-positioning the estate agent towards achieving global best practices.

  • Orubebe’s misconduct

    • The ex-minister’s display at the collation of presidential election result is a classical example of how an elder should not behave in public

    It is quite saddening that daily, we are reminded of the poor leadership selection process in the country.  Elder Godsday Orubebe’s display at the collation centre for the presidential election is one of the worst reminders that the country has a long way to go in recruiting men of honour and panache to handle critical national assignments.

    The former Minister of the Niger Delta did not realise that being at the centre was a rare privilege that was extended to him because he was considered mature and accomplished. The national ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had sent the elder from Delta State to represent it at the collation of the results, believing that he would be of good behaviour and portray the party and Nigeria in good light to the world.

    It is shameful that Elder Orubebe could insist on sending the presiding officer over the collation, Professor Attahiru Jega packing. It is difficult to fathom that such a man could think that by creating a scene  at the event he could disrupt and draw the curtains on such a sacred assignment that millions of  Nigerians were waiting with bated breath for its outcome. Was the former minister familiar with provisions of the law on the circumstances by which a chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) could be removed from office?

    He displayed both bad judgement and bad faith. He kept calling on Professor Jega to abandon the exercise without giving him an opportunity to respond to the allegations he had made. Orubebe then proceeded to sit on the floor, refused to release the microphone and kept yelling with the intent to cause commotion. Were the former minister a minor, he would be liable to spanking by his parents, but being an elder, who knows what his bewildered wife and children would have said to him for giving them such a poor image?

    We join Professor Jega in calling for decorum by those privileged to have held public office in the land. We commend the INEC chairman for his mature handling of the situation. Even when it was obvious that Orubebe deserved to be thrown out of the room for being a misfit for the occasion, Jega remained calm and waited for the former minister to calm down before ordering for continuation of the exercise. When he chose to speak on the matter, he gave all the reasons why Orubebe had no justification for what he did.

    On the allegation that the INEC chairman was partial and selective in treating matters referred to him as the chief electoral commissioner and returning officer for the election, Jega pointed out that he did not receive any petition from the PDP. He explained that Col. Bello Fadile who attempted to present some sheets of papers to him adopted the wrong procedure and was chided for doing so. As such, Professor Jega said the so-called PDP petition was not before the commission.

    On the ruling party’s fear that the figures from Rivers State had been rejected, the INEC chairman said the commission found no basis to take such an action as an election was indeed held in the state last Saturday. He crowned his submission by saying, even if with due respect, that a person of Orubebe’s stature should not have behaved in such a manner.

    Although the former minister has apologised, we must say he should never have contemplated what he did in the first place. If Prof Jega had not exhibited maturity and the exercise had been disrupted, will an apology be able to contain the consequences of such behaviour?

    We commend the Jega example to all public officers. Had the INEC chairman ordered that the source of irritation be bundled out to allow resumption of proceedings, the outcome would not have been as smooth.

    As we move towards the second set of elections next week, we call on all Nigerians to cooperate with INEC in ensuring that the governorship and House of Assembly elections are free, fair, peaceful and credible. This is what we owe the country, Africa and indeed, the world.

  • Cross River students sack leaders for alleged misconduct

    Members of the legislative arm of the National Association of Cross River State students (NACRISS) have held a session to discuss issues affecting the association.

    By the time they rose from the sitting, which was held at the University of Calabar (UNICAL) Old Senate Chambers, member removed the parliament’s leaders for misconduct.

    They scrutinised finances of the association by setting up as committeee led by Bassey Abba. Members unanimously passed a resolution to impeach  the Senate President, Francis Obono, who had been initially suspended for alleged financial misconduct.

    The motion for the impeachment was moved by Emmanuel Omang and seconded by Dominic Effiong. The students also claimed that the Senate President violated Section 32 of the association’s constitution. A new leader was chosen. He is Okanga Ogbu.

    Reacting to his removal, Francis said: “I don’t know the reason you are asking this question. When you have something better, you can find out time to talk to me. For now, I’m still the Senate President. If any person has been impeached, I am not the one. Whatever you heard is mere rumours.”

    Members also impeach the Vice President, Juliet Manyo, for allegedly participating in an illegal demonstration calling for the removal of the Personal Adviser on Students’ Affairs to the Governor Liyel Imoke, Mr Hilary Bisong, and usurping the powers of the president.

    The impeachment letter made available to our correspondent reads: “Without prejudice to the constitution; following the discrepancy, gross misconduct as reported by the house committee on fact-finding on the Vice President for violating section 53(2), Article A, B, C, D, E, F and H, that the irrelevant demonstration was not approved by the association’s president and Legal Adviser, such groups shall be suspended indefinitely…”

    The General Secretary, Sunday Obi, was also indicted for breaching the constitution and got suspended indefinitely for taking part in the protest.

    Reacting, Juliet said: “Those senators are impersonating the recognised principal officers of the senate. Whatever they are doing is simply not right. They don’t have the rightto impeach me. I am not even bothered about that. They are just a faction of the senate. Those  who claimed to impeach me are those that are given stipends by Philomena Agweye, the suspended president. Even as I speak, I have not received any notification of the so-called impeachment.”

    All efforts to reach the suspended General Secretary were futile.

    A former member, who pleaded for anonymity, frowned at the crisis rocking the association and called for dialogue among warring factions.

    “Must we fight over everything? What kind of politics is this? When we were in the union, we did not misbehave as these crops of students are doing. I will advise all of them to return to a round table discussion to settle all their grievances and stop washing their dirty linen in the public, ” he said.

     

  • UNILORIN expels five students for alleged misconduct

    The management of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) has approved the expulsion of five students for alleged acts of misconduct.

    The university named the affected students as: Adeoti, Shola Adeola (Matriculation No. 11/55EB018) of the Department of Geology; Onirinwa Funmilayo (Matric No. 05/67QY010) of the Department of Arts and Social Science Education; Adu Micheal Abayomi (Matric No. 11/55EA024) of the Department of Geology; Atanda Kazeem Demola (Matric No. 07/66MF024) of the Department of Political Science; and Odiwe Lilian Unoma (Matric No. 10/25OD079) of the Department of Counsellor Education.

    Addressing reporters yesterday in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, UNILORIN Vice Chancellor, Prof AbdulGaniyu Ambali said: “We have various committees put in place to checkmate excesses, either by the students or the workers. We have rules and regulations guiding the conducts of workers and students on campus. UNILORIN has been enjoying stable academic calendar for over one decade and it is because of the rule of law taking place.

    “Probably those students were found wanting in their character because by the time you pass through a university system, you must be found worthy both in character and learning. That means everybody is being monitored from day one on campus up till the last day on campus. I am sure those people were found guilty by the relevant committee set up to monitor and discipline them.

    “UNILORIN has zero tolerance for cultism and few other vices, which the society frowns at. We just want to ensure that anybody who is graduating from here is of good character and has the requisite skills to perform the job.”

    On the current strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the professor of Veterinary Medicine urged both parties to come to a resolution in the interest of the students.

    He said: “The two parties should discuss and bridge the gap between them. When two people are fighting, nobody will have absolute right; nobody will be 100 per cent right. If you look at the two parties, there will be lapses in their actions.

    “I just appeal to the two parties to fill the gap and understand each other. Life is about give and take. They should please come to an agreement very soon so that students will continue their studies.”

     

  • Oyerinde: Reps to investigate police for professional misconduct

    The House of Representatives has expressed concern over the handling of the investigation into the murder of Olaitan Oyerinde, the Principal Private Secretary to the Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole, by the police.

    The lawmakers have mandated the House Committees on Justice and Police Affairs to investigate the allegation of professional misconduct against the police.

    The committees were given four weeks to report back, with appropriate recommendations to the House.

    Pally Iriase (ACN, Edo), who moved the motion under a matter of urgent public importance, said the intervention of the AHouse became necessary as a result of the security of the indigenes of the state.

    Governor Oshiomhole had accused the Deputy Inspector- General of Police (DIG) Peter Gana, who was deployed to the state to pursue the case, of deliberately stalling action on evidence provided by the Department of Security Services (DSS).

    The lawmaker, however, questioned the reason behind the parade and prosecution of different suspects by the police other than those apprehended by the State Security Service (SSS) that were caught with incriminating materials belonging to the deceased.

    Iriase said the allegation of the governor was not only persistent, but had also drawn comments about the reliability of the police.

    He said it was worrisome that the police could neither defend the allegation nor deny authorship of the police report sent to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution, which exposed the alleged shoddiness and criminal cover up perpetrated by the DIG.

    “It is of concern that the allegation, if proven, contradicts the avowed vision and mission of statements contained in the Code of Conduct document and belies the values espoused therein.

  • Clattenburg Racism Row: FA charge Mikel for misconduct

    Clattenburg Racism Row: FA charge Mikel for misconduct

    Super Eagles and Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel has been charged by the FA over the Mark Clattenburg race row after the referee was found to have no case to answer.

    Mikel accused Clattenburg of using racist language towards him during Chelsea’s defeat to Manchester United last month.

    Mikel was charged for alleged use of threatening and/or abusive and/or insulting words and/or behaviour in or around the officials changing room.

    He has until Friday, November 30 to respond.

    The Nigeria international is alleged to have stormed into the referee’s changing room after the match after being told by team-mate Ramires that Clattenburg had called him a ‘monkey’.

    Mikel stated that he did not hear anything at the time.

    Referee Mark Clattenburg hasn’t refereed a game since and is now set to return to official duty.

    The County Durham official has spoken of his relief and said the last few weeks had been ‘the most stressful of his life’.

    He said: “I am looking forward to putting this behind me and concentrating on refereeing in the Premier League and other competitions.”

    Meanwhile, Chelsea have accepted the FA’s decision to clear Clattenburg of the alleged racist comment against Mikel.

    A club statement read: “Chelsea Football Club accepts the Football Association’s decision regarding Mark Clattenburg and welcomes the fact that the FA recognises the club and players were correct in reporting the matter.

    “The FA states Chelsea took the correct action following the Manchester United match and encourages all players who believe they have been either subject, or witness, to discriminatory abuse to report the matter immediately to the match officials on the day, and in turn to the FA.

    “The club also notes the charge brought against John Mikel Obi. While the player does not deny the charge, he will request a personal hearing to explain the mitigating circumstances.

    “With regards to the Mark Clattenburg decision, the club accepts the case is now concluded and notes the FA states the allegation was made in good faith.”