Yesin’s Faction Of Ugbajo Itsekiri USA Gets Landslide Victory Against Toju Etchie’s Suit At US Court
President of Ugbajo Itsekiri USA Inc., Mr. Jemine Okotie-Yesin
The legal battle that surrounded the leading Itsekiri Diaspora group, Ugbajo Itsekiri USA Inc., has finally come to a conclusion with Mr. Jemine Okotie-Yesin Group of the Organization clinching a landslide victory judgment at the US Superior Court against Toju Etchie and Oti Uku Nwosu’s faction of the Ugbajo Itsekiri USA.
The victory judgment in favor of Mr. Okotie-Yesin’s group was delivered on Friday, December 13, 2024, at the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
Recall that the suit lingered for about three years(2021 - 2024) and gradually slowed down the humanitarian projects carried out annually by the group to her people back home in Nigeria.
Speaking to this tabloid via telephone, the Jemine Okotie-Yesin group accused Toju Etchie’s faction of misappropriation of 157,000 Dollars in the Organization’s consolidated account in the space of three years.
“Our organization has experienced substantial financial impact. The reduction of our treasury from $157,000 to $23,000 is a huge blow to our finances. This money was raised through years of dedicated $20 monthly contributions from our members. This depletion of resources has directly affected our ability to serve our community, particularly through our medical missions in Warri, where vulnerable community members depend on our support.
“We are calling on Toju Etchie and his team to give proper accountability on how our hard-earned money was spent within the space of three years, they stated.
Parts of the judgment reads;
"The purported creation of the Interim caretaker committee at the meeting of the board of directors of Ugbajo Itsekiri USA Inc.,(hereinafter "Ugbajo) on September 5, 2020, was legally invalid and of no legal effect;
"The purported elections of Toju Etchie and others as executive officers of Ugbajo on January 16 2021 were legally invalid and of no legal effect, as were the results of all subsequent election of officers held by the faction of the organization led by Mr. Etchie;
"The terms of Kingsley Onuwaje and the other executive officers who were in office in the period leading up to the meeting of the board of directors of Ugbajo on September 5, 2020 were extended by operation of the law under D.C. Code & 29 - 496.05(d) and continued until elections were held in September 2o24 and the persons duly elected in those elections, including Jemine Okotie-Yesin as President, were formally sworn into the office;
"All elections conducted by the Onuwaje faction in and after September 2021 have been legally valid."
