"I AM NOT A THIEF"
The 34th LASUSU President, Comr. Haroun Tobun has come out to share his own side of the story, and he says he is NOT a thief.
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The 34th LASUSU President, Comr. Haroun Tobun has come out to share his own side of the story and he says he is not a thief.
Comr. Tobun while speaking to this editor narrated how the whole story shared by a majority of his cabinet members is a twisted version of the reality and how this has weighed him down.
"I carry a significant burden and worries which would have weighed me down if I was not sensible enough, and would have disturbed my peace of mind, especially when a particular leader is surrounded by thieves," Comr. Tobun stated.
According to him, the issue of ₦2.7 million is not news because when he got the message from the Financial Secretary, Comr. Olufemi Abayomi (Femsneh), he informed the Financial Secretary that he had already conversed with the bursar.
"I immediately called the dean to thank him for his relentless effort in the disbursement of the fund. And my speaker too who always followed me to school even after our sign out to make sure we get our funds," Comr Tobun shared.
However, the President claimed that as at the time when he was trying to get the money to be paid, most of his executive members were not present as they claimed to be busy with work.
" I'm also working too, and I still find a time to come to school because of the money. Ibiade is the only one I can call now that'll turn up," the 34th President narrated.
"When the 2.7 million naira dropped, I gave the Financial Secretary a working plan on how the money would be spent. I told him to share the #700,000 with the other excos, aside some persons which I told him reasons why they must be compensated.
"My vice president, Boss Lady already left the group after her sign out because they did not believe that the money would drop. I wasn't even supposed to give her from the money because she already left the group. But I said no, because these people suffered, so they must gain from it.
"I credited her from the money. I gave the same Vice President that left the group 300k from the money. I also gave the sports director 300k from that same 2 million," Tobun explained.
Also, he shared how the sum of ₦300,000 was given as 'sorting' to certain persons who were not executive members but helped in one way or another especially in the processing of the money.
"I told the Financial Secretary that Epe and Ikeja campuses must get from the money too, 250k each. I told the dean also. Adding the 900k and the 500k that was given to Epe and Ikeja campuses, it totalled ₦1.4 million. I told the dean that I'll be taking ₦600,000 for myself, which I don't think it's a special amount of money for me to take," Tobun shared further.
Comr. Tobun also confirmed that he gave the Sports Director money alongside some other executive members who did not deserve to get paid but they felt like the money given to them was too small.
"That's was why I said I'm surrounded by thieves. One of my excos was even telling me that the money should be shared amongst us. But I said no, because according to my belief and my political mentor , everyone must gain from it," Comr. Tobun shared with this editor.
"After transferring Boss Lady's share to her, I also sent the financial secretary's share. Then I sent the remaining 500k for the external campuses to my savings account, and it's still in the bank as we speak. I told the financial secretary that he knows what happened to me, and that I'll send the money when I get back to school," the 34th President explained.
Comr. Tobun shared that he has been unwell which is one of the reasons he has not been able to attend to these issues and the money to be shared with the external campuses — Epe and Ikeja — are in a savings account which he can only access by physically going to the bank.
Comr. Tobun also expressed his displeasure at the manner in which Comr. Ibiade has gone by misinforming people about the issue.
"I understand where he's coming from. He told me, he said he was expecting me to tell him when the money dropped. I said, 'Oh, my bad, I haven't been myself, I'm sorry.'
"Ibiade is the only exco who knows where I'm staying and I told him that day, February 13th, when we chatted. I said, 'Ibiade, when I'm back this weekend, I would love us to see.' There's a reason for that," Comr. Tobun narrates.
In addition, he shared that he had plans of also giving Comr. Ibiade Benjamin, the Public Relations Officer (PRO), and Comr. Apata Oluwasegun, the Welfare Director, out of his own money as they were his favourite people while he was in office.
The Vice President
Responding to the president's claim that she was paid ₦300,000, the 34th LASUSU Vice President, Comr. Mercy Oladiran (Boss Lady) said she received a sum of ₦300,000 as stated by the President but it came with no narration or explanations whatsoever.
Comr. Oladiran shared that she had invested way more into the LASUSU Week event she held as she followed due processes in all of it.
"Regarding LASUSU week, I followed the same procedure, drafting a budget proposal, submitting a request, and sourcing funds. I executed the program, went into debt, and waited for months until I handed over office duties, but I heard nothing about the funds.
"Seven months after hosting the program, I have yet to receive anything. The most frustrating part is that my President doesn't even have me on his WhatsApp—he blocked me during those months, and as I speak, I’m not part of the SEC WhatsApp group; I was removed last November, likely to keep me uninformed about this," Comr. Oladiran shared.
According to her, she received an email from her bank with just his name and no explanation, leaving her unable to contact him for clarification.
"If this was intended to be the LASUSU week payment, it certainly falls short of what I am owed," Comr. Oladiran shared.
However, she says she no longer wants to be involved in such issues as her intention was to "make a positive difference in the lives of LASU students, not to engage in disputes over money, as my family is quite well-off. It’s truly disheartening that the union appears to care solely about finances. My concern lies with the students".
The Suspension
Finally opening up about his suspension from office on June 24, 2024, Comr. Tobun claims the foundation of his suspension was based on a misconception which was eventually ironed out.
"My suspension was based on the claim that I created an account, but I wasn't the one who created the account. No account was created by the office of the president when I was there.
"The TMC (Transport Management Committee) chairman opened a Money Point account named LASUSU TMC. It's there, anybody can go and verify the truth. That's where the guy was keeping the money," Tobun Narrated.
In furtherance, the past president noted that the account was created by a person close to him who was known to the TMC, but the account name remained 'LASUSU TMC'.
Also speaking on the money he was alleged to have embezzled, Tobun claims that he did not embezzle, and there are facts and figures gotten by the committee set up to look into the issue.
"They should go back to the Dean of Students Affairs to go and verify this information and stop spreading defamatory messages," Tobun warns.
Also, he claims that the misconceptions were based off rumours shared by an executive member who was jealous of his close relationship with Comr. Ibiade and Comr. Apata; and how it seemed like the trio were living large on the Union's money when in reality, it was the money earned from their respective jobs.
📝: Ayo Oladiran, Deputy Editor, LASULife
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