NANS exonerates Former President Danielson Akpan of wrongdoing

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has cleared former President Danielson Bamidele Akpan of all allegations of misconduct, including the diversion of funds and palliatives, and signature forgery.

An undercover investigative committee set up by the NANS Senate to probe the circumstances surrounding Akpan’s impeachment in 2020 via a Zoom meeting found no evidence to support the allegations.

*Background

The committee was set up by the President of the Senate of NANS with the responsibility of unraveling the circumstances, unveiling underlying issues, and the legality of the Zoom meeting which pronounced an impeachment on Comrade Danielson Bamidele Akpan, who was President from 2018-2020.

*Findings

The committee found that the administration of Comrade Danielson Bamidele Akpan was elected in a keenly contested election on the 11th July, 2018, and was formally inaugurated on the 6th September, 2018. The administration took off with a major focus on activism, defense of students’ rights, and resolving all pending crises facing students.

The committee also found that the Xenophobia struggle was championed, which saw to the end of the years-long killing of Nigerians in South Africa. The FUOYE student killings were conspicuously opposed, and the 400% tuition fees increment in tertiary institutions by the Ondo State governor was resisted.

*Alleged Signature Forgery

The committee investigated the alleged signature forgery and found no evidence to support the claim.

Instead, they discovered that the account was opened before the Senate seating, and the signatures on the account belonged to Akpan and his appointee.

*Bayelsa SIM Cards Project

The committee found that the Bayelsa SIM cards project was a business transaction between Akpan and the Bayelsa State government, and that the transaction was not breached.

*$200,000 NNPC Allegation

The committee also addressed the alleged diversion of $200,000 from NNPC, stating that both Akpan and NNPC denied the allegations, and that there was no evidence to support the claim.

*Zoom Senate Seating

The committee found that the Zoom Senate seating was unconstitutional and lacked the required quorum.

*Recommendations

The committee recommended that:

– The Senate should declare the purported impeachment unfounded, unconstitutional, illegal, and defamatory.
– Nullify it, and absorb the former president of all allegations of funds and palliative diversion, as well as forgery.
– Reinstate and restore full recognition and honor as former President of NANS.
– The Senate should specially honor the former president for his numerous activism and successful struggles.
– The former president should be recommended to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for an appointment.

*Resolution of the Senate*

The Senate, after considering the report, declared the impeachment “null and void” and restored all honors, rights, and privileges to Akpan.

“The NANS hereby restores all honor, rights, and privileges of a NANS President on Comrade Danielson Bamidele Akpan, GCNS,” the Senate resolution stated.

*Former NANS Leaders Forum*

The Former NANS Leaders Forum, comprising former presidents, vice presidents, senate presidents, and critical stakeholders, had earlier condemned the impeachment, describing it as “a flagrant disregard to all procedures prescribed by the constitution.”

*Akpan’s Response

Akpan, in his response, said, “I am vindicated, and my integrity remains intact. I thank the NANS Senate for this bold step and the undercover investigative committee for a thorough job.”

For Diaspora Digital Media Updates click on Whatsapp, or Telegram. For eyewitness accounts/ reports/ articles, write to: citizenreports@diasporadigitalmedia.com. Follow us on X (Fomerly Twitter) or Facebook