Crisis rocks NIDO Europe: EGM sacks Central Executive Council; “They are jokers, I remain the leader”, says Obasekola

In a significant shake-up within the Nigerian diaspora community, over 150 members of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organization Europe (NIDOE) on Sunday announced the dissolution of the leadership of the Central Executive Committee (CEC) led by Dr. Bashiru Obasekola.

This decision was said to have been reached during an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM), requisitioned under Article 56.2 of the NIDOE Constitution and Articles 303 & 305 of the UK Companies Act 2006, where NIDO Europe is headquartered. With notice given in accordance with Article 57.1 of NIDO Europe Constitution and Article 305 of the UK Companies Act 2006. In attendees were 246 members with only 171 validated members that formed part of the quorum.

However, in a swift reaction, the Legal Adviser of NIDOE, Ursula Atueyi, issued a statement, a copy of which was sent to The Podium International Magazine. The statement noted that “the purported EGM held today and its outcome is inconsequential with no legal effects. The EGM was organized by what appears to be the disgruntled members of the Association who could not get what they wanted by legal means but resorted to self-help. This is not allowed in any civilized society”.

Also, in an interview with The Podium Magazine, Dr Bashir Obasekola, accused the conveners of the EGM of plotting to hijack the Association. “We are having our AGM in Greece in the second week of November. Some people whose candidates could not meet up with the nomination criteria are busy fomenting trouble. I remain the CEC leader, and we are focused on the AGM preparations. The CEC remains intact under my leadership. We are not perturbed at all, they just gathered people together, most of them are not bona fide, financial members of NIDOE.

According to the communique of the EGM sent to The Podium magazine, the core issue that prompted the EGM was the “Obasekola-led CEC’s refusal to call an emergency general meeting to address mounting grievances regarding the handling of NIDOE’s electoral process before the organization‘s annual general meeting. A circular issued ahead of the EGM outlined the reasons for the leadership’s dismissal, with several key points highlighting the perceived mismanagement of the organization’s election and governance processes”.

Grounds for Leadership Sack

1. Violations of NIDOE Election Protocols:
   NIDOE’s UK South Chapter held its own EGM where 95% of members endorsed two candidates for the positions of Chairman and Vice Chairman, in line with Section 69.6 of the organization’s constitution. However, the Electoral Committee (EC), under pressure from the CEC, included three additional candidates from the same chapter, violating the NIDOE constitution. The interference was seen as an overreach of authority, undermining the chapter’s democratic process.
2. Mockery of Democratic Process:
   When challenged by past chairpersons and key stakeholders, the CEC responded by subjecting both the two legitimate candidates and the three unendorsed ones to a pre-election voting process. This action was widely condemned as unconstitutional and a blatant disregard for the will of the chapter’s membership.
3. Inclusion of Ghost Candidates:
   In another controversial move, the CEC included a disqualified candidate from NIDOE Italy who had not met the organization’s membership criteria. This decision, made in opposition to the protests of the Italian chapter, further undermined the electoral credibility and raised concerns about leadership manipulation.
4. Disqualification of Competent Candidates:
   The EC disqualified a competent candidate endorsed by the Swiss chapter, despite repeated calls from stakeholders to uphold constitutional integrity. This, coupled with inconsistent electoral guidelines, cast doubt on the EC’s ability to conduct a free and fair election, leading to widespread disillusionment within the organization.
5. Unconstitutional Involvement of Non-EC Members for candidates screening process:
   The EC engaged eight non-members in the screening process for NIDOE candidates, a decision seen as both constitutionally baseless and suspicious. Speculation arose that these actions were part of a broader political agenda, aimed at installing certain candidates affiliated with Nigerian political parties.
6. Financial Mismanagement Allegations:
   Members demanded a forensic audit of the NIDO Europe Foundation’s accounts amid allegations of unauthorized disbursement of donated funds for personal expenses and selected projects without proper approval from the Board of Trustees. The allegations of financial impropriety have fueled concerns about the integrity of the leadership.
7. Undue Interference in Chapter Elections:
   There were reports that Dr. Obasekola had instructed the NIDOE UK South Chapter leadership not to nominate a specific candidate, raising further questions about electoral interference and manipulation. If proven, these actions would confirm allegations of favouritism and undue influence in the organization’s election process. Moreover it’s becoming a pattern that all the chapters in crisis, considered the leading chapters in Europe decedent in complete anarchy after visiting their AGM and meetings, including Germany, Ireland, UK south and now Swiss”.

Outcome of the EGM

“The EGM, held on Saturday, 26th October 2024, after exhaustive deliberation, passed a vote of no confidence on Dr. Obasekola and the EC leadership. Members unanimously agreed that the leadership had failed to uphold the constitution and protect the democratic rights of the chapters”.

“A seven-member Caretaker Committee was appointed to investigate the numerous constitutional violations and infractions, with a mandate to recommend corrective measures and conduct a new election within six months. This decisive move reflects the membership’s resolve to restore credibility to the organization and ensure that its future leadership operates with transparency and adherence to its founding principles”.

Looking Ahead

“As NIDO Europe enters a period of transition, the sacking of the Obasekola-led CEC signals a broader call for accountability and reform. The outcome of the EGM underscores the organization’s commitment to upholding democratic values and ensuring that the leadership truly reflects the will of its members”.

“The following members nominated and voted into the Caretaker Committee. Alhaji Issa Abdullah; Hon Madam Vire Komolafe; Dr Onyebuchi Egbuchunam; Chief Kalu Okorafor; Madam Afolasade Ope; Hon Busola Agboola and Valentine Owodu. With the upcoming elections under the oversight of the newly appointed Caretaker Committee, members hope to rebuild trust and move NIDOE toward a future of integrity, unity, and effective representation for Nigerians in Europe”.

The Podium Magazine gathered that the CEC had earlier turned down a request for an EGM, going by the letter reproduced below:

The Signatories to the EGM Requisition- NIDOE
C/O. Hon Raph Abum Esq
Member, NIDOE UK South
By email only

Re: Requisition for an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) by NIDOE Members Pursuant to Article 56.2 of the NIDOE Constitution

09/10/2024

Dear Sirs,

We refer to your letter dated 9th October 2024, and we reply as follows: –

1. The annual general meeting is a statutory meeting with specific businesses the law requires a company to carry out but does not preclude any other business of the company. Being the only general meeting for some years now, all matters of the organization are discussed within the AGM
2. The agenda specified in your requisition can be conveniently attained at an AGM. Therefore, it becomes frivolous to call a General Meeting twice within a week, that is if your request is within the law.
3. Your meeting was not duly requisitioned. Under Section 303(2) of the Companies Act 2006, only the members carrying the right to vote at general meetings of the company can requisition an EGM. Meanwhile, under Article 63.1 of the NIDOE Constitution, only members who have paid their annual dues shall be entitled to vote on any question at any general
   meeting. Given section 303(2) and Article 63.1, the members you requisitioned the EGM had no right to vote because they had not paid their annual dues at the date of the requisition and therefore are not entitled to requisition the EGM.
4. Under section 303(6)(b) a request for an EGM must be authenticated by the person or persons making it. Rather the said requisition listed names of members and none was authenticated but only one person (Hon. Raph Abum Esq) who did not constitute 10% of members having voting rights.
5. Under section 304(4) Companies Act, “If the resolution is to be proposed as a special resolution, the directors are treated as not having duly called the meeting if they do not give page 2 of 2 the required notice of the resolution in accordance with section 283” meanwhile, under Article 60(2) all business transacted at an EGM shall be deemed special. Therefore, the
   directors of NIDOE cannot call the EGM as requisitioned even if they wish would have been called well after the AGM to give the required time for a special resolution.
6. Further, the requisition rather than stating the general nature of the business to be dealt with at the meeting, was rather couched in the form of resolutions to wit: a. To pass a vote of no confidence in the Electoral Committee (“EC”), and/of the Chairman of NIDO Europe CEC, and to dissolve the current EC.
   b. To constitute a new Electoral Committee during the EGM in accordance with Part 9 of
   NIDO Europe Constitution.
   No. A is a resolution despite how you titled it, would, if passed, be ineffective by reason of inconsistency with the company’s constitution. Article 42,5 states how officers of the organisation may be removed.
   Given the above myriads of reasons, your requisition failed, you may wish to seek independent legal advice or better still go to court, but any meeting you convened is unlawful. You have failed to meet the tenet of laws or the NIDOE Constitution and would be acting at your peril. Be warned.
   Yours faithfully,
   E-signed:
   Hon. Michael A. Otogo, Ursula Atueyi
   General Secretary. Legal Adviser.
   
7. Dr. Bashir Obasekola
   Chairman