Bola Audu Remains Expelled – ASCSN

Bola Audu Remains Expelled – ASCSN

The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) on Wednesday said Comrade Bola-Audu Innocent has been expelled by the organs of the association for anti union activities in 2021.

According to a statement signed by the Secretary General of the association, Comrade Joshua Apebo said Comrade Tommy Etim Okon Is the National President Of ASCSN contrary to reports on social media quoted Bola Audu as the president.

The statement further said Comrade Tommy Etim Okon will lead the Union to the next National Delegates Conference where a new National President will emerge.

“We therefore, urge our teeming members throughout the country and the general public to discontenance 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 union emphasized.

The union recalled that in 2021, Bola-Audu Innocent and three others were 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)

They were accused of engaging in human trafficking and exploitation of vulnerable persons.

It posited that if FCT High Court ruled that Bola Audu Innocent had no case to answer in the criminal case he was facing with three others, that had nothing to do with the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria.

“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.

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“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 regretted.

The Union posited that if Nigeria was a sane clime, Bola-Audu would certainly have been charged for contempt of court but in this country where the culture of impunity reigns supreme, he is still moving about freely.

Also in an interview, the president of the Association, Comrade Tommy Okon congratulate Comrade Bola Audu for the relief granted by the court .

Comrade Tommy said though Comrade Bola Audu is discharge a d aquinted by the Court but that he remain expelled as due process was followed in reaching that position .

“It is also important to note that Bola Audu (in the first instance) was not 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.

“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 by the Court.

“It is also important to recall that the decision by NEC for Bola Audu to step aside while Comrade Tommy Etim Okon steps in as Acting President of The ASSOCIATION was taken in good faith for the best interest of the UNION.

Unfortunately, Bola who should have known better brazenly disregarded the decision of NEC and acted against the Public/Union Rules by attacking the Union and it’s structures and bringing it to public ridicule.

Bola Audu was EXPELLED from the ASSOCIATION at a formal NEC meeting. His expulsion was not primarily because of the criminal charges against him, rather his expulsion was as a result of his unruly and unconstitutional and anti-union actions which is unbecoming of a Public Officer.

In my conclusion, Bola Audu may have been discharged and acquitted by the Court, BUT HE REMAINS EXPELLED from the UNION due to his inability to conduct himself properly under the decision of the NEC.”.