Lawsa Bank Accounts "Are" Dormant!!!

It has been revealed that the bank accounts of the Law Students Association, University of Benin are dormant and as such the present LAWSA government has no access to them. 

The revelation was made by the Financial Secretary of the association, Stanley Umeh during the budget presentation of the Executive arm of government to Congress on Friday 21st of January.

Stanley Umeh. 

The genesis of the whole saga was when in his budget presentation, Mr Stanley stated that the LAWSA Account was empty.

This was baffling to the congressmen and they demanded more clarity on the assertion.

Eke Martins, whip of the 400level confronted the Financial secretary and said he had insulted congress and LAWSA. He was quick to point out, that LAWSANs especially those in 100level have been paying their dues, and that he personally had paid his dues, he and other congressmen demanded to know how come the LAWSA account balance was zero naira.

Rather than address the issue, the Financial secretary sought to spar with hon. Martins citing that he claims to have paid his dues, but he remembers how he was disturbed many times by him (Fin.Sec) to pay, before he eventually did, this further enraged members of the house who felt the Financial secretary was dodging the main issue and launching a personal attack on the Honourable member of the house.

The Speaker Nna Victor had to step in and cautioned the Honourable congressmen not to attack the financial secretary and that the financial secretary should face the main issues and not concern the house with events leading to the payment of dues.

The Financial secretary perhaps dived deeper into murky waters when in reply, he said the association had two accounts, one being the 'LAWSA Bus project' account, and the other been the main LAWSA account, but that the association presently had no access to them.
This disclosure further sounded like a clang on the ears of congressmen, because rather than answer the previous question, it opened a channel for more questions to flood in.

How is it possible for the accounts to be dormant?

Did this start from previous administrations?

How then did they and the present administration manage the funds, were some of the questions the honourable congressmen asked.

The financial secretary in attempt to provide more clarity stated that the issue started from the "Innocent Osagu led administration" and that whatever monies that the Excos  presently have been collected from LAWSAns were being kept "somewhere".

Innocent Osagu. 

Congressmen were getting impatient now, because they felt that they were being led deliberately away from the main issue and that the financial secretary was being evasive as to the definition of 'somewhere' and 'how much' was in that 'somewhere.
The Speaker had to step in and called for the house to calm down, and permitted the President to provide illumination on the matter.

Mr president, pleaded with the congressmen to show respect for LAWSA executives standing before them and not try to put them on the spot or use choice words on them. Addressing the issue he confirmed the statement of the Financial secretary on the existence of two LAWSA accounts which the present association had no access to. This according to him was so because the administration of former LAWSA President, "Innocent Osagu" who were signatories to such account did not transfer such to the "Lauretta Ezeugbor led administration" (who operated from a 'special' account) who in turn could not do so to his administration.

Lauretta Nebechi Ezeugbor. 

President Garrick also said that steps were in place to make sure the transfer of signatories was successful and the dormant accounts revived, that he had even contacted Innocent personally.
He assured that the monies collected from LAWSAns in the form of dues were being kept "somewhere safe within the faculty", and revealed that the amount so far collected was "13,400 naira". 

It would be recalled that the President in an exclusive interview with ULP disclosed that his government "inherited a debt of 29,000 naira"
During his address to the congressmen, he gave more details as to the nature of the debt.
He said that the association owed the said 29,000 naira to the former President Lauretta Nebechi Ezeugbor and Director Of Sports, Kuzi Magaji.

The Speaker of the House, Hon. Nna Victor on getting to know the details of the debt was not happy at all that the Executive arm took such into account. Nna Victor, "the President has just intimated the house on the debt that he inherited. I say that is a bad debt and it should be discountenanced. They (former administration) have not come to account for it, or whatever they spent while in office. In fact they did not properly hand over to you. As far as this house is concerned, such a debt is non-existent". 
This resolution of the Speaker was greeted with approval from congressmen.

ULP Sources gathered on investigation that, while there was no transfer signatories to the Lauretta government, there were plans underground at the time to open another LAWSA account with Fidelity Bank which did not materialize.
On further inquiries, it was ascertained that the said "Bus Project Account" had more than 300,000 naira as the account balance while the other account details are yet to be known.
It remains to see what happens next and how this revelation will affect the scheme of things in the University of Benin Faculty of Law Students Association.

President Garrick Presents 'LAWSA BUDGET' 2016.

DRAMA IN CONGRESS SITTING AS MAJORITY OF PARLIAMENTARIANS WALKOUT. 

• Inaugural absentee Hon. Daniel Eiwanlan sworn into Congress. 

• President Garrick Nosa and LAWSA Excos Present Budget. 

• Congress fails to approve budget completely as majority members walk out. 


There was no shortage of drama and intrigue on Thursday, 21st of January as the Supreme Congress of LAWSA could not fully approve the budget presented by the Executive arm of government, just as there was a massive exeunt of Congressmen from the sitting.

The sitting started at about 4pm when the speaker walked in, and with the normal congress formalities, reading and adoption of minutes done, absentee at the Inaugural congress sitting and swearing in, Daniel Eromosele Eiwanlan was sworn in by the speaker.

Hon. Daniel Eiwanlan. 

After this action, it was time for the executive to present its budget and a motion was moved to that effect.

The Executive arm of government was ably represented by President of LAWSA, Garrick Nosa, Vice President Ruth Ogor, Secretary General, Ugochukwu Okeleke, Financial Secretary Stanley Umeh, Public Relations Officer Kelvin Irikefe, Director of Socials, Smith Egharevba and Director of Sports Lucky Obahor.

However things began to go awry when copies of the budget made available to the house where grossly inadequate. This did not go well with the congressmen, in a disapproval voiced out by Deputy Speaker Honourable Franklin Ikechukwu who noted that in a repetition of events like in the previous sitting (ELECO budget presentation) the copies were not enough, that worse still the executive made available one copy of the budget to each constituency. The 400level congressman pointed that although he understood the harsh economic situation the association was in, the executives should have done better than they had done. The President apologized for this inconvenience citing financial constraints. However more copies were made and distributed amongst the congressmen and the presentation of the budget started in earnest.

The Speaker Hon. Nna Victor brought to the attention of the house, that even though a budget had not being approved all this while, "the executives have not allowed the affairs of LAWSA to be stagnant, so in their wisdom they have embarked on some projects that they feel is in the best interest of LAWSA".
The President was directed by the Speaker to leave the budget for the "other offices" and concentrate on the General LAWSA projects, that the respective executive officers would account to the house on their separate budgets.

After presentation of the budget to the house, the floor was open for questions to the President.


Members noted that the 'so-called' budget only listed expenditures, but did not specify the revenue coming into the association and also how the budget will be funded.

In addressing this concern, President Garrick Nosa stated that the funds to come in from the dues even if all students decide to pay, will not be enough obviously to cover the budget, that the Executives intend to go out and source for funds in order to be able to finance the budget.

The Financial Secretary, Stanley Umeh was the next to take the stage, as he explained his own budget which included plans to generate funds by printing and selling stickers, and other legal related merchandise. This exercise was going well until he mentioned that the sum of 200naira was budgeted as the allowances of congressmen per sitting, and things further turned sour when he announced that at present, ninety percent of congressmen were yet to pay their dues, and two excos were also yet to so do and consequently LAWSA's account was empty.

Stanley Umeh. 

This utterance was baffling and disconcerting to the congressmen.
Hon. Eke Martins, whip of the 400level constituency asserted that the financial secretary had insulted Congress and LAWSA. He was quick to point out, that he and some other Congressmen had paid their dues, students of 100level were paying dues, so how can the financial secretary stand before Congress and say that the financial account is empty.
In reply, Stanley Umeh said that the account was empty because LAWSA had two accounts, one of which is the bus project account, and the other - the main LAWSA account, both which they did not have access to because they were dormant. This revelation was perplexing to congressmen and keen observers present who still did not understand the import of the Fin Sec's statement, who seem to have put himself in a tighter corner with this revelation.
It drew questions from congressmen as to where all funds being collected by him were being kept and how much had being collected so far.

The house was becoming rowdy as barrage of questions were hurled at the Financial Secretary by the congressmen, who did not provide answers that satisfied the Congressmen.

The Speaker had to step into the matter to calm the Congressmen and permitted the President to clear the air on the issue. Garrick Nosa stated that truly the two LAWSA accounts were dormant because the administration of former President of LAWSA - Innocent Osagu who were signatories to the account, did not transfer such before graduating from the Faculty and going to Law school. 

Innocent Osagu

Most Congressmen not satisfied with the way the whole process was going left, leaving eleven(11) Congressmen, one(1) from the 300level constituency, two(2) from the 400level constituency, others from the 500level including the Speaker and Clerk. This did not go down well with Honourable Chief Whip of the House, Freeman Ameh. He stated that he was highly embittered, surprised and regarded as appalling the lackadaisical attitude of his fellow congressmen from other levels with regard to sensitive government matters. They would indiscriminately leave the floor of the house when they had important issues to trash out and the whips of the various constituencies could not call their members to order. He called this action an aberration and abomination, stating that he as whip of the 500level constituency was able to persuade his members to wait for the siting even after a class because of the sensitive nature of the matter to be handled, and pleaded on Mr Speaker to do something about the act of indiscipline exhibited by the congressmen of the lower levels. Hon. Nna Victor acknowledged this fact, promised to look into the matter and take necessary steps.

It was getting late and it became obvious that the whole budget could not be reviewed and approved that same day, a motion was moved out of necessity for the budgets of the Director of Sports Lucky Obahor and Director of Socials, Smith Egharevba to be presented and approved, because of the incoming Dean's Games starting the next week and the Matriculation Party for the 100level student which would take place the next day.
Despite concerns raised against approval of such budgets due to the lack of the approved number of congressmen needed for approval of such budget, Speaker Nna Victor, dismissed such concerns saying the other members who left slept on their rights.

The budgets for the Director of Sports and Director of Socials (as it relates to the Matriculation Party) were approved and the sitting adjourned to a latter date, while the remaining part budget was committed to the House Committee on Budget and Finance for further review.

Law Students - Kings And Priests!

Kings and Priests! 1 Peter 2:9, Rev 1:6.

That was the theme for this year clasfon's freshers welcome.
It was a really an anticipated event especially for the 100level students but also to all law students.
The event held on the saturday the 23rd of January, a day after their matriculation, at the faculty of arts orchard.
The event started by 10am, with the opening prayer, followed by a soul lifting  praise and worship led by the music director of clasfon - Chinedu Igwe.
The anchors of the event were Zaynarb (200level and clasfon's secretary general) and Caleb (300level) .
Immediately after the praise and worship, a drama piece was presented by the drama unit, the drama portrayed three freshers and the many temptations they were susceptible to and how they were able to overcome, fail and the resultant consequences. It was funny, interesting and above all informative and revealing, more so for the 100level.

A cross section of freshers at the event.

Immediately after the drama was a beautiful rendition by the clasfon's choir.
After which, "Papa" ( Emmanuel Agabi, clasfon's president), introduced pastor Festus to preach the word to 100level and all gathered.

Pastor Festus is the Youth president of the Redeemed christian church of God ( house of daniel parish) .
In his message, he admonished the freshers to be unique in their stay in school, not to go along with the crowd and never losing focus of why they are in school, for "it is not how much you live your life that matters but how well! They say if you can't beat them, you join them! I'm enjoining you today as kings and priests that if you can't beat them, you leave them! What you give attention to, will ultimately define the direction of your life"
He also implored the 100level students to be mindful as to their dressing and be on the guard always against sin, never losing sight of their divine heritage - "it is not the clothes that define the clothes but the personality that defines the clothes.
Galatians 6:7, whatever a man is sowing, that is what he shall reap, for we serve a God that is merciful but sin itself is not without consequences. There is a way that seemth right unto a man but the end thereof is destruction, so let he that thinks he stands, take heed lest he falls, for if the foundation of the righteous be destroyed, what can the righteous do?"
He also asked that the 100level students be focused in all their dealings. "Don't live your life by chance, live your life by choice. Your life is God's gift to you, what you do with your life is your gift to the world. Our constitution for living is the word! So that what you can't  see, you can't pursue - always set a target for your self, for God said to Abraham, as far as you can see with your eyes is yours"
 He urged the freshers to be thankful to God, even in all things, trusting not in their own strength for anything - " the way of God sometimes does not make sense. Today so many persons desire your profession but they are there and you are here. The professionalism of a profession is not defined by the profession but by the person's professing that profession"
"If you have not spoken to God about a life, you have no capacity to bring that life to God"

On a final note, he advised the newbies to heed the admonition as contained in Eccl 12:1,2; "remember now your grand creator in the days of your youth while your delight is still in the lord.... fear God and keep this commandments, for this is the duty of man.
The man of God then ended the powerful sermon, with prayers for the 100level students and all gathered.

After the message, Awesome Ojeah came up and addressed the new students about the dress code and the many controversy and confusion surrounding same.

Next on the agenda was the playing of some games, students were made to dance round the chair in synchronization with music, a game which obehi (300level) won and also the 100level students played various word games.

Finally though was the cutting of cake, the sharing of refreshments, the recognition of first timers, the singing of the family song and then the sharing of the grace.

ULP spoke with some of the students after the event and asked them to describe the event in one word and this was their various response.


Edidiong - "Wonderful! Amazing!"


Lucy - "it was great! For me the best part was the ministrations, from the worship to the word to the prayer, they were all very touching for me"

Gabriel - "it was wonderful, it was nice, the most outstanding thing for me was the togetherness, the love and the unity amongst ourselves, it was really great"


Nonye - "it was great! As you can see, I'm very happy and excited! I like the fact that I'm going home with breakfast, lunch and dinner after eating to my full already"


ULP also spoke with chairman of the planning committee for the freshers welcome on the challenges they encountered on the way here and how they were able to surmount those challenges all together.


Jefferson (500level) - "All glory be to God almighty. Our major challenge was finance and getting a venue, thank God we got this venue (Orchard), then getting people to locate this place for the event. But we really thank God for the success of the event. No matter the challenges we faced, we were able to surmount everything. By the grace of God we were able to get good response (turnout) from persons"


Report by gafar.

LAWSA MATRICULATION PARTY!

On friday the 22nd of January was the matriculation ceremony for first year students of the university of Benin. 

The event was held at the akin deko main auditorium of the university. 

However while that was official part of the event, like most faculties and departments, Lawsa via the office of the Director of socials, organized a little get together party for the matriculants and the event was fun filled and graced by some distinguished personalities, the likes of the president of the association, the secretary general, the financial secretary, the p.r.o, lawsans from all levels and the surprise appearances of vice president S.U.G - Aisha Kanabe, and the clearance officer for law - Barr, Aigbovo.

ULP was there and these are some pictures of how the whole show went down.

The venue was the faculty of education pitch.