ERA/FoEN Removes Nnimmo Bassey as Trustee/Chairman of Board

By The TREND Media

The General Assembly of the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) has removed Nnimmo Bassey as Trustee and Chairman of the Board for betrayal of trust.

This was contained in a resolutions issued at the end of ERA/FoEN General Assembly of 7th October, 2020 held at Precious Palm Hotel, Benin City, Edo state capital.

"It took cognisance of the lingering crisis among the Trustees and Management Team of ERA/FoEN prior to 2013 onwards when Godwin Uyi Ojo took over from Nnimmo Bassey.

"The main cause of the ongoing crisis is the lack of trust and conflict of interest by Nnimmo Bassey's leadership style, control and direct involvement in the day to day management of the organisation that is the primary role of the current Executive Director," the resolutions stated.

The organisation claimed that Nnimmo Bassey occupies dual position as ERA/FoEN Executive Director and Chairman of the Board since inception in 1993 to 2013, and remain as chairman of the board for over 27 years.

"Nnimmo Bassey occupies dual position as ERA/FoEN Executive Director and Chairman of the Board since inception in 1993 to 2013, and remain as chairman of the board for over 27 years.  He combines these as the Executive Director of Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), an organisation which he established for the purpose of sabotaging the progress of Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN). The conflict of nterest has caused rivalry and entrenched conflicts that is inimical to the smooth running of the Environmental Rights Development Foundation (also known as ERA/FoEN)."

The General Assembly explained that Section 834(1) of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020 has given the General Assembly the approval to nominate and appoint members to feel in the vacant positions and therefore nominated Chief Saint Emma Pii as Chairman, Godwin Uyi Ojo as Secretary while Mike Karikpo and Jennifer Ero to serves as members.

"Going by the provisions of Section 834(1) of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020, the General Assembly  has vetted and approved the nomination and appointment Chief Saint Emma Pii (Chairman), Godwin Uyi Ojo to serve as Secretary while Mike Karikpo and Jennifer Ero as members respectively."

The General Assembly also passed a vote of confidence on the Executive Director, Dr. Godwin Uyi Ojo as a leading environmental and human rights advocate community and grassroots mobilizer and urged him not to be detracted by anyone in the discharge of his duties.

In a swift reaction to his purported removed as Trustee and Chairman of the Board, Nnimmo Basset said, " On the 3rd of October, 2020, Dr. Godwin Uyi Ojo appointment as Executive Director was terminated. The Board, Nnimmo Basset said prohibits Dr. Godwin Uyi Ojo   to henceforth stop parading himself in any manner as representative of the organisation or in any capacity as ERA/FoEN Executive Director.