The Chairman, Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists, Akwa Ibom State chapter, Prince Etukeyen Samuel Etukeyen was on Monday suspended from office over allegations of fraud, corruption, general inefficiency and abuse of office.
He was also mandated to refund all monies and property including documents of the association in his possession within 24 hours of his suspension.
The directives were contained in a resolution endorsed by seven out of the ten executive members of the association including, Richard Wilson and Ekon James Mascot, Vice-Chairmen of the association representing Ikot Ekpene zone, Dorathy Udoh from Uyo Senatorial zone and Mrs. Helen Onukak, Vice-Chairmen, Eket Senatorial zone who was afterwards made the acting chairman.
Others were Gloria Inam, the Treasurer, Goodness Ekong, Social/ Welfare Officer and Asuquo Udoekon, Public Relations officer of the association
A copy of the resolutions of the Meeting obtained by our reporter was addressed to the National President of NASSI, Abuja, and copied to the governor of the state, Udom Emmanuel, Vice President South-South, the State Commissioner of Trade and Investment, Commissioner of Police and the Director of the State Security Service amongst others.
The resolution read in parts, “We the Executive council members of the Nigerian Association of Small scale Industrialists, Akwa Ibom State branch, being conscious of our rights, obligations and duties, having firmly sworn to defend the powers of the constitutions of NASSI, after a careful study of the complaints, allegations and actions of the state chairman of NASSI, Akwa Ibom State, stress that, given the above mentioned and having more than 2/3 representation as contained in NASSI constitution, section 19 (1 and11) section14 (X11 a) having seven elected members out of ten, suspends and remove Prince Etukenyen Samuel Etukenyen from office as the Chairman, Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists, Akwa Ibom State branch today 15, January 2021, pending ratification by the national executive council. Section 25 (ii)
“We the executive council hereby nominate one of the vice-chairmen, Mrs Helen Onukak from Eket Senatorial District as the deputy state chairman, NASSI, Akwa Ibom state. By this appointment, Mrs Onukak has been automatically appointed the acting state chairman, NASSI, Akwa Ibom State branch. Section 18 (ii).”
When contacted, the embattled Chairman, Etukenyen, described those against him as overzealous and greedy people adding that a matter of this nature has to be resolved by the national president of the association
The chairman who said he was yet to be served with the resolutions of the meeting said the national president will be in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state to address the media on the issue.
According to him, “By Thursday the National president of NASSI will be here to address a press conference so that you will not write fake news. We just came out of the election in November, last year and we were about doing something but because of overzealousness and greed of our people. I have not even been served any papers. it’s from the journalists that I am hearing these stories.
“I am telling you the truth that when the National President comes he will take far-reaching decisions because NASSI is a national association and anything that happens at the state level the national president must be aware
“The provision in the constitution of NASSI says if you have issues such as this you report to the national president and it is the national president that will resolve the issue.”
