By Zainab Bakare
The President of National Association of Delta State Students, UNIBEN/UBTH Chapter (NADESSTU), Eyituoyo Ebohon, has refuted the claims of ineligibility and misappropriation of funds contained in a petition written against her. In an official response addresed to the Dean of Students, she debunks and provides clarity to these claims.
ACJ UNIBEN reported the petition written against the President by one Ajunwa Chidi Miracle on behalf of the stakeholders. It claimed the President is not a Deltan, accusing the Staff Advisor, Prof. Egweree, of aiding her assume office despite being ineligible. It was also alleged that the Staff Advisor diverted funds to himself, using the Electoral Chairman, Fortune Agwa, who he unlawfully appointed, to push a constitutional amendment that supports this.
The President, in response to these claims and allegations, has provided constitutional backings for rebuttal. She confirms her eligibility to be a member and subsequently run for presidency, quoting the Section 7 of the NADESSTU Constitution (2024, as amended).
“…All duly registered students of Delta State origin in UNIBEN
Note: ‘Students’ include undergraduates, postgraduates, full-time degree students.
Note: ‘Students of Delta State Origin’ include persons whose paternal or maternal parents hail from Delta State”
She established her maternal lineage is from Delta State and confirms the availability of her Local Government Area of Origin.
She also refuted the allegations of the Staff Advisor diverting the association’s funds to himself and unlawfully appointing an electoral chairman, quoting sections of association’s constitution.
“Section 33(7): Grants the Staff Advisor the authority to intervene and take decisive action in times of a breakdown of law and order within the association.
Section 28: Empowers the General Assembly—comprising heads of all cultural associations under NADESSTU—to oversee electoral decisions, including the appointment of electoral officers.
Section 33(viii): He shall be entitled to ten percent of the total money realized from Association annual verification.”
She also clarified the claim of misappropriation of funds, establishing that the association’s treasury was empty upon her swearing-in, claiming the only funds received were from the re-verification process of busary applications.
“The only funds received so far were from a re-verification process for bursary applications, which I personally initiated at a discounted cost of ₦500 per student to enable Delta State students to access their bursary entitlements.
The total revenue generated from this initiative is less than ₦20,000, part of which has been used for executive movements and essential administrative functions.”
In an exclusive interview with ACJ UNIBEN, the President claims that the petition against her was a move to take control of NADESSTU.
“These hooligans are only making these moves in an attempt to take control of NADESSTU when the bursary eventually comes in, so they can embezzle the funds.”
“Furthermore, Godsent Agboeikhe who has been fighting tooth and nail against me was allegedly accused of misappropriating funds even during his tenure as NADESSTU President. Is that the type of person Deltans should be listening to? He should focus on clearing his name rather than trying to control an association that he couldn’t preside over properly.”
She stated she cannot be removed from her office as she won the election fairly and legally.
“Additionally, their plan to use social media to remove me from office is baseless and impossible. I won the election fairly and legally, and the constitution confirms my eligibility to contest, which was why I was able to purchase the presidential form in the first place.”
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