Why I never failed my conscience; We cannot afford to allow tainted leadership to hijack the future of our union

Though heavens will never fall:

“Fiat justitia ruat caelum” — Let justice be done though the heavens fall – Roman Maxim will always say because:

“A state that does not care for law is nothing but a herd of wild animals” – Plato

In the exercise of my constitutional responsibility as the Chairman of the Electoral Committee (ELCOM) of the Faculty of Education, University of Abuja (Yakubu Gowon University), and in accordance with the 2025 Electoral Guidelines, the NUESA Constitution, and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999 as amended), I, Sen. Ifesinachi Donald Utoh, hereby state why I affirmed and endorsed the disqualification of Comrade Ayeolowo Elijah Idowu from contesting the position of President of NUESA in the past faculty elections.

This decision did not emerge from sentiments or vendetta, but from the highest moral, legal, and constitutional obligations to uphold integrity, rule of law, and accountability in student leadership.

According to Article 17 Section F of the NUESA Constitution, the duties of a Financial Secretary are clearly spelled out. Mr. Idowu egregiously violated the following sections:

1. Section II(i): Failed to provide accurate financial records as required once every semester.
2. Section II(iii): Did not remit funds to the Treasurer within 48 hours, denying responsibility and transactions despite overwhelming evidence.
3. Section II(viii): Misused his position as a signatory by engaging in unauthorized handling of association funds.
4. Section II(iv): Refused to present records to the auditor, and failed to comply with compulsory accountability standards.

Further investigation by the Directorate of Safety Unit and corroborated by the complaints of over 70% of students who paid for ID cards they never received, revealed a total misrepresentation of union income — declaring only ₦1.8 million out of an alleged estimated ₦4.6 million received. This N2.8 million discrepancy is more than just a numerical error; it is a constitutional breach, a criminal offense, and a betrayal of trust.

The Financial Report delivered by the disqualified candidate 

Nigerian jurisprudence is clear on this matter:

“Ignorantia juris non excusat” – Ignorance of the law excuses no one.

As reaffirmed in Aoko v. Fagbemi (1961) 1 All NLR 400, the court held that no individual can claim lack of knowledge of the law as a defense in legal proceedings.

Similarly, in Ishola v. Ajiboye (1994) 6 NWLR (Pt. 352) 506, the Supreme Court maintained that every person is presumed to know the law and therefore must bear the consequences of violating it, regardless of whether they understand it or not.

The accused, Mr. Idowu, was fully aware of his constitutional responsibilities as Financial Secretary and had prima facie knowledge of the illegal fees being collected under his administration. He even issued receipts marked ₦1,000 while collecting ₦3,000 from new students — a textbook case of fraudulent misrepresentation and economic exploitation.

His defense? A single bank statement from an account he chose to use, while ignoring the Opay account widely circulated for transactions. But the law does not reward evasion, concealment, or selective disclosure.

Let it be known:

1. The decision to disqualify Mr. Idowu was grounded in Section 18 of the NUESA Constitution, the Criminal Code Act (Section 390), the EFCC Act (2004), and the Fifth Schedule of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (Code of Conduct for Public Officers).
2. The Directorate of Safety Unit independently discovered substantial evidence of financial malpractice.
3. The Directorate of Safety units have acknowledged these issues, leading to reimbursements to some of the affected students.

These are not hearsay, nor political manipulations — they are established facts and active responses by statutory university bodies.

There’s been an orchestrated misinformation campaign on social media — attempting to portray the ELCOM and the Directorate of Safety as biased or driven by hate. This narrative is false, misleading, and a smear tactic to distract from the mounting evidence against the disqualified candidate.

Let us be clear:

“When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty.” – Thomas Jefferson

We, the Electoral Committee, resisted the temptation to turn a blind eye to injustice — as is too often the case in campus politics. We resisted the pressure to pretend that embezzlement is a leadership quality, and that popularity equals integrity.

As Greek statesman Solon once said:

“Put more trust in nobility of character than in an oath.”

The office of NUESA President is not a reward for manipulation or popularity. It is a public trust, one that must be earned through transparency, truth, and respect for the constitution.

We cannot afford to allow tainted leadership to hijack the future of our union. If we allow corruption to wear the face of courage and call impunity activism, then we have failed our own conscience.

I stand on the side of law, evidence, and student justice.

Let posterity remember that when the test of leadership came, we chose honor over hype, accountability over anarchy, and integrity over impunity.

“A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.” – Greek Proverb

Let us plant that tree now — a tree of justice, for the next generation of students to sit under.

SIGNED:

Sen. Ifesinachi Donald Utoh

Chairman, ELCOM – Faculty of Education 2025.