Isoko Youths’Group Resolve Rift After Backlashes Trailed Allegation Of N67m Fraud

The Isoko National Youths Assembly, (INYA), Delta state, says it has resolved the crisis which led to the suspension of the association’s second vice president, Kelvin Apar-Itesah.

BIGPEN Online understands the resolution of the crisis is coming at the backdrop of the public outrage which greeted the allegation of misappropriation of the association’s fund running into N67 million.

Mr. Apar-Itesah had allegedly accused the youth president, Comrade Ovie Umuakpo of ‘financial reckless, high-handedness and gross conduct’ and inability to account for N67 million reportedly collected on behalf of the Isoko National Youths Assembly (INYA).

In a statement after he was suspended from the youth group, Apar-Itesah who also orchestrated the counter-suspension of Umuakpo alleged that there is “calculated plan to misspend the sum of N200,000 security fund,N200, 000 special interest fund, N200, 000.00 running cost, N440, 000.00 Clans fund and N200, 000 self social security fund and other funds to the tune of N1.7 million on monthly basis.

The estranged youths also accused Umuakpo of mismanagement of a N5million Christmas largesse that accrued to the body from which he shared a meager two baskets of rice to members.

The Apar-Itesah camp in the statement signed by Comrade Lucky Adadhe, Public Relation Officer II of INYA, claimed that Umuakpo was running the body as his private estate to the detriment of members.

“The deliberate act of the president to divert Isoko National Youths Assembly (INYA) to channel funds into his personal first bank account is illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional, null and void ab initio, the statement had alleged.

It could be recalled that the secretary general of the youth body, Amos Ogbokor-Etaluku, had announced the suspension of Mr. Apar-Itesah for alleged gross misconduct and insubordination among others.

Apar-Itesah was suspended ‘indefinitely’ owing to claims that he plotted to topple the government of Umuakpo.

His suspension was “After careful deliberations and considerations of issues against him, bordering on gross misconduct and insubordination, attempted but failed coup, in connivance with enemies of the government and attempting to harvest signatures of other executives over false and unsubstantiated claims to unseat Mr. President, Ovie Umuakpo.”, the statement announcing it had said.

Meanwhile, following the backlashes which trailed the allegations and counter-allegations, the youths’ group owing to the intervention of some persons in the areas were said to have met and resolved their differences.

The was contained in a statement by the Secretary General of the Isoko National Youth Assembly Worldwide, Comr Amos Ogbokor-Etaluku, announcing the resolution of the faceoff on Sunday evening.

The statement reads; “This is to notify the general public that the disagreement INYA had few days ago has been resolved peacefully. The body is now fully back on track once again to discharge its duties to Isoko Nation that it represents.

“We solicit the general public to continue to repose the confidence the body has been enjoying since the inception of our administration.

“Disagreement is part of life, but the ability to resolve and forge ahead matters most. We assure you that INYA will be stronger and more united in the days and months ahead”.

“We are grateful to all well meaning Isoko sons and daughters most especially our Grand Patron Chief Fred Obe, Bar Afor Irogbo, Chief Emamusi Obiodeh, Chief Duncan Afahokor, Hon Bino, Chief Victor Egbo, Mr Ovie Akpotu,Hon Evans Egbo etc that intervened promptly to settle the impasse”, the statement added.

Meanwhile discontent tunes have continued to trail what becomes of the allegations and counter-allegations as the terms of settlement were yet to be made public at of press time on Sunday night.