The Alexander Brown Hall Chairperson, Mr. David Salami, was referred to the Hall Assembly Committee on Discipline for his complicity in the misappropriation of funds that involved the Finance Minister and the Social and Buttery Minister. This was at the Hall Assembly meeting that was held on Friday, 10th March 2023.
Recall that the Finance Minister, Miss Tolulope Abodunrin, and the Social and Buttery Minister, Miss Ebunoluwa Adedeji, were referred to the Committee on Discipline for misappropriation of funds approved for the Hall’s Freshers’ Welcome. Miss Abodunrin had disbursed funds in excess of N5,520 above the approved budget for the event, at the request of the Social and Buttery Minister.
The Committee on Discipline however found out that the Hall Chairperson, Mr. David Salami, was privy to the entire process during the course of their investigation. Mr. Salami was said to have given a go-ahead to the Finance Minister to disburse the funds requested by the Social and Buttery Minister. He had not thought to inform the Hall Assembly of the new development or seek their permission to review the budget upwards.
The Committee on Discipline recommended that the Finance Minister, who had previously been mandated to refund the deficit within 30 days, also be made to pay a fine of N2,500 within a week. The Social and Buttery Minister who had claimed not to be aware of the need to seek the permission of the Hall Assembly to spend money raised for events from sources out of the Hall’s account, was asked to pay a fine of N1,500 within a week. Both parties were also required to send letters of apology to the Hall Assembly for the misappropriation of funds and breach of the constitution within 24 hours.
In addition to the above, the Committee recommended that the Hall Chairperson be formally referred to the Committee on Discipline for his complicity in the matter, as the Committee had found it worrisome and unacceptable that the Hall Chair, who was supposed to be an experienced legislator, was privy to a breach of the constitution.
The recommendations of the Disciplinary Committee were subsequently adopted by the house after Honourable Okpara moved for the adoption of the committee’s report and had the motion seconded by Honourable Omotayo.
