The battle of supremacy between the Bonny Graduates Forum (BGF) and Bonny Youths Federation is assuming a new dimension as the latter has called the bluff of the former over its threat to pursue legal action against it.

 

Leader of BYF, Simeon Wilcox insists the inclusion of the BGF in the federation’s constitution was a fait accompli and there was no going back on it.

 

He further promised to meet the BGF in court should it make good its threat to sue the BYF.

 

The BGF, a body of graduates of Bonny origin, had, in reaction to the surreptitious inclusion of its name in the constitution of the youth body, threatened to pursue legal redress and possible criminal prosecution of the BYF leadership if the action was not rescinded.

 

But, in a chat with Kristina Reports, Wilcox said, “he (BGF Chairman) said he was going to court and I told him that going to court is what I do. We shall meet them in court. BGF is not a kingdom body and cannot fight for the graduates of Bonny Kingdom. BYF is the body recognized by all”.

 

The BGF, through its lawyers, Flag Amachree and Flag Amachree Solicitors, last week wrote to the BYF demanding that the inclusion of its client in the said constitution be reversed, describing the action as “derogatory, vexatious and ultra vires”.

 

It warned that if the name of BGF was not expunged from the BYF constitution within 14 days, it will seek legal redress on behalf of its client, the BGF.

 

The Titled Citizens Assembly (TCA) of Bonny Kingdom had, through its Chairman, Israel Williams, advised the BYF to backtrack on the attempt to include the BGF in its constitution without consultation with the forum.

 

Williams, who was a former Commissioner for Finance in the State, was supported by a former Minister of Housing, Amal Pepple, who counseled the youth body to appreciate the fact that it was against common sense to contemplate subsuming a body of eminent graduates under a youth body.

 

Strangely, the Bonny youth leader stood his ground, asserting that he answers only to the King of Bonny and no one else.

 

He further stated that the TCA was biased in its perception of the issue, explaining that the move was to bring all youth bodies under one umbrella in order to speak with one voice, adding that the BYF was the apex youth body of Bonny Kingdom.

 

The letter to the Bonny Youths Federation (BYF) by Flag Amachree and Flag Amachree Solicitors reads:

“REQUEST TO EXPUNGE ANY CLAUSE IN YOUR CONSTITUTION THAT HAS TO DO WITH BONNY GRADUATES FORUM

 

We act as solicitors to the Incorporated Trustees of the Bonny Graduates Forum hereinafter referred to as our clients and on whose instructions this letter is written.

 

It is our client’s instruction to notify you in order to remove, expunge or exclude our client’s name from your purported constitutional (Review) amendment in which your organization, “Bonny Youth Federation” (BYF) clandestinely included our client as part/subsidiary of BYF without recourse to our client.

 

Our client is duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC/17/No 127216) and there is nowhere in our client’s registration documents it was so stated that our client is affiliated or is a subsidiary of BYF or any other association.

The act to include our client as part or under BYF in your purported constitutional (Review) amendment is derogatory, vexatious and ultra vires and therefore of no effect. We refer you to our client’s letter to you dated 18^th April, 2019 on the same subject matter and urge you to act in accordance with the wordings of the said letter.

 

TAKE NOTICE that we do urge to have a rethink and remove/expunge our client’s name from your purported constitution within fourteen (14) days of the receipt of this letter. We think this is the demand of justice and it is our resolve to enforce if somebody’s ego is not allowed to do the needful.”

 

Concerned stakeholders have been persuading the BYF Leader, Simeon Wilcox to jettison the idea adducing diverse reasons why the BYF was apparently on the wrong path.

 

It remains to be seen if Wilcox will convoke the BYF Congress to rescind the decision and expunge BGF from its amended constitution.