*As members reject election process, head for court

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) has invited its members for a special meeting to address its leadership succession crisis after some displeased members dragged the institute to court.

In a letter to its members, a copy of which was obtained by newsmen, the institute said an Extra-Ordinary General Meeting had been convened to address the lingering crisis.

It said the EGM followed a court order which arose from the suit filed by the aggrieved members.

The letter, dated May 17, 2023, and signed by the Registrar/Chief Executive, ICAN, Ahmed Kumshe, stated that some members had filed the suit (LD/6407GCM/2022) against the institute and its president.

The suit seeks, among other things, an order compelling the defendants to give effect to a resolution passed at the institute’s 57th Annual General Meeting held on May 27, 2022, by convening an extra-ordinary general meeting for the purpose of discussing a proposal for electoral reforms.

The letter, purportedly sent to ICAN members read in part, “Other than for the purpose of elevating the vice president to the position of president-elect, all other electoral activities shall commence after the special meeting.”A top official of the ICAN who would not want to be quoted, said some members had kicked against the succession procedures of the president and other leadership positions of the institute

He said, “The issue is about electoral reform, voting new council members and all that. That motion was moved last year, so this time round, we just want a new way of electing council members; that is what some members are asking for.”

The chartered accountant noted that what had been in place was that the vice president would automatically become the president.

He said, “It was in the wisdom of the council that all those things were put in place, now there is a court injunction stopping that process. Everything that we do is based on the law, but I am not sure if becoming ICAN president after occupying the vice president’s office is from the ICAN Act.

“It was a council decision to put this system in place. But some members believe that procedure should be reformed, the essence of the electoral reform is to have members elect whoever will become president.”

From the meeting scheduled to hold on Wednesday, he said, the issues should be resolved and a new president should emerge soon.

Another top ICAN member, who spoke with newsmen anonymously, said, “Except ICAN Act is partially amended, some of these issues will still be there, but the annual general meeting where the members agreed on some of the issues also has power.

“I think that is why some members are calling for an annual general meeting because, once members decide, it becomes binding.”

When contacted for a reaction, ICAN spokesperson, Mrs Bunmi Owolani, asked our

correspondent to send

an email which was done. However, as of the time of filing this report, she had yet to send the response.

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