IGBO EKUNIE INITIACONSTITUTION

IGBO EKUNIE CONSTITUTION (As amended, March 2021)

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Preamble:

Article 1 – NAME & MOTTO

Article 2 – AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

Article 3 – IGBO EKUNIE CENTRAL COUNCIL (IECC)

Article 4 – MEMBERSHIP

Article 5 – ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE

Article 6 – TENURE OFFICIALS AND ELECTION COMMITTEE

Article 7 – The Standing Directorate

Article 8 – FINANCE AND AUDIT

Article 9 – AUDITING 

Article 10 – RESIGNATION AND VACANCY

Article 11 – DUES & FEES

Article 12 – MEETINGS

Article 13 – QUORUM 

Article 14 – DECORUM

Article 15 – WELFARE/BEREAVEMENT BENEFITS

Article 16 – DISPUTE AMONG MEMBERS 

Article 17 – PATRONISATION PROGRAM

Article 18 – INDEMNIFICATION:

Article 19 – DISCIPLINE

Article 20 – APPEAL

Article 21 – AMENDMENTS OF THE LAWS

Article 22 – DISSOLUTION OF IGBO EKUNIE INITIATIVE

Article 23 – BYE LAWS & CODE OF CONDUCTS

Preamble

We the Igbo people of the South-East Nigeria,

Recognising the need to come together and work assiduously for the emergence of a prosperous Igbo land;

Knowing that we can best articulate and protect our interests hereby so doing;

Believing that institutionalising our interaction enhances our capacity for achieving unity in our ardent love for our nativity and a dream to see a strong and prosperous region emerge out of it;

Resolved to strictly work for the attainment of our objectives which are articulated herein;

Hereby give ourselves the following rules and regulations:

Igbo Ekunie Initiative shall be strictly non-partisan and exist to foster the spirit of brotherhood and co-operation and promote greater networking, economic prosperity and cultural heritage among the Igbo people of Nigeria. In pursuit of this goal, we the members of the Igbo Ekunie Initiative hereby adopt the following laws to become binding on every member.

Article 1 – NAME & MOTTO

  1. a) The organisation shall be known as Igbo Ekunie Initiative. 
  2. b) The Motto is: Òfó na Ogù

Article 2 – AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:

  1. a) Igbo Ekunie Initiative shall be a sociocultural and economic organization to be comprised exclusively of people of Igbo descent within and outside Nigeria.
  2. b) The Initiative shall pursue the full integration of Ndi Igbo into the World in a manner that will secure their place of pride and protect their rights and interests within the world.
  3. c) The Initiative shall collaborate with other organizations and individuals that share similar objectives to work towards regional prosperity.
  4. d) The Initiative shall work for economic emancipation and empowerment of Igbo people.
  5. e) The Initiative shall strive to recover, rediscover and preserve the Igbo heritage.
  6. f) The Initiative shall adopt measures to strengthen and preserve the Igbo language and ensure its transmission to future generations.
  7. g) The Initiative shall work for unity and amity of the Igbo race.
  8. h) The Initiative shall work to ensure that the preservation of the rights of Ndi Igbo is seen and heard in the global arena through contacts, outreaches, representations, and other credible forms of advocacy.
  9. i) The Initiative shall seek to work with all the Eastern states governors and to serve as a Think Tank to assist the eastern governors to provide enabling environment for inter-state projects and developments.
  10. j) The organisation shall encourage and facilitate Igbo persons and groups in the Diaspora to invest and bring foreign partners to invest in Igbo nation.

Article 3 – Igbo Ekunie Central Council (IECC)

Igbo Ekunie Central Council (IECC) shall come into effect after the inauguration of the organisation and shall serve as the central working committee of Igbo Ekunie, and shall comprise of the Presidents and Secretaries of all inaugurated Branches and Chapters and Directors of the Directorates. 

One of its main functions shall be to ratify and authorize all actions proposed to be carried out by the branches and chapters, see to policy formulation and enunciating the directive principles of the organisation.

As the supreme organ, it shall have the powers to overrule Branches and Chapters as well as Directorates, modify their actions and/or proposals and suspend erring Branches’, Chapters or Directorates’ executives and impose sanctions in accordance with the applicable rules of the organisation.

Article 4 – MEMBERSHIP:

  1. a) Any person born of Igbo parents, who is proudly Igbo and associates with Ndi-Igbo can be a member. The person must be of good standing and with no known criminal convictions in order to qualify as a member.  
  2. b) For the avoidance of doubt, a member shall be deemed to be of good standing if:
  3. i) He or she is current on all membership dues;
  4. ii) He or she is current on all levies and financial obligations of the Initiative;

iii) He or she has not failed to attend three consecutive meetings of the General Membership. Non-attendance will be excused in cases of death in the family, sickness of a family member or self, and natural disaster.

  1. c) If a member fails to meet any one of the criteria in sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) above, that member shall lose all privileges as determined by this initiative, including the right to vote or be voted for. 
  2. d) The secretary shall maintain a register of attendance which must be brought to all meetings of this Initiative.
  3. e) A member may be suspended, and in extreme cases expelled for gross misconduct and criminal convictions. The motion for such suspension or expulsion shall be moved by the Executive council for ratification
  4. f) The Executive council shall with the ratification of the General membership determine what constitutes gross misconduct

Article 5 – ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE:

5.1.  The organisational structure shall consist of the following:

  • The Executive Council
  • The Directorates, and
  • The General Membership

5.2. The Officers of the organisation shall comprise of:

  • The President
  • The Vice President
  • The Secretary
  • Financial Secretary
  • Publicity Secretary
  • Provost

5.3. The President shall:

  1. a) Be the chief executive of the Initiative and in this capacity, the President shall be responsible for and coordinate the entire activities of the organisation. 
  2. b) Have the powers to call general and special meetings. 
  3. c) Represent the Initiative at any level as occasion may call for. 
  4. d) Preside over all meetings and all other officers shall be responsible to the Initiative through the President.
  5. e) Conduct and chair all General Membership meetings, sets the agenda, suspends and reopens debates, and calls for a vote as necessary.
  6. f) Appoints members to act for any elected official who is absent. Such appointment terminates at the expiration of assigned duty or on the return of the elected official.
  7. g) Perform all other duties as directed by the General membership

5.4. The Vice President shall:

  1. a) Assist the President in the execution of his duties, 
  2. b) Preside over meetings when the President is absent, and perform all the duties of the President any time the President is absent.
  3. C) In the event the office of the President becomes vacant, or the President becomes incapacitated, automatically assume the duties of the office of the President, and a new Vice President shall be elected by the General Membership under the Initiative electoral procedure.
  4. d) perform other activities as directed by the general house
  5. e) reports to the Executive Council.

5.5. The Secretary shall:

  1. a) Records the minutes of the meetings of the Initiative and prepares agenda for the next
  2. b) Distribute the minutes of the last meeting prior to the next meeting and make changes as directed by the General Membership.
  3. c) Handle all correspondences of the organisation as directed by the President.
  4. d) Serve as the keeper of the organisation’s files and records, in addition to records kept by other officials.
  5. e) Perform all other duties as directed by the General
  6. f) Keep records of all motions and amendments agreed upon during meetings or the WhatsApp platform.
  7. g) Reports to the Executive Council.

5.6. The Financial Secretary shall:

  1. a) Be responsible for collecting all the organisation’s funds, and all funds collected shall be handed over to the Treasurer within a reasonable time of collection.
  2. b) Be responsible for the financial records of the Initiative.
  3. c) Maintain the records of all financial transactions of the Initiative and prepares such records for dissemination to the Board and the General Membership.
  4. d) Be responsible for all tax matters.
  5. e) Prepare and submit as needed all financial statements and/or financial summaries of the organisation.
  6. f) Performs all other duties as directed by the General Membership.
  7. g) Report to the Executive Council.

(h) Prepare payment voucher for all disbursements and issue receipts for all monies collected.

5.7. The Treasurer shall:

  1. a) Be responsible for the safekeeping of all the organisation’s funds including deposits and withdrawals.
  2. b) Perform all other duties as directed by the General Membership.

5.8. The Publicity Secretary shall:

  1. a) Be responsible for the dissemination of all the activities, both internally and externally.
  2. b) Promote a favourable image of the organisation for the media.
  3. c) Recruit members to the Initiative.
  4. d) Handle the dissemination of meetings, and an invitation to members and heads a group appointed to organize social events.
  5. e) In cooperation with the Directorates, locate sites for social events.
  6. f) Give direction to places of social events.
  7. g) Perform such other duties as shall be directed by the General Membership.
  8. h) Report to the Executive Council.

5.8.1 The Provost shall:

  1. a)        Maintain order and decorum at every Igbo Ekunie gathering and function
  2. b)        Ensure that there are discipline and dedication amongst members
  3. c)         In charge of the welfare of members and condolence matters
  4. d)         Reports to the Executive council

5.9. The Executive Council – shall:

  1. a) Be vested with the management and control of affairs, business, and property of the organisation.
  2. b) Comprise of all the Officers, and Chairpersons of The Directorates. 
  3. c) This notwithstanding, the members shall be not less than four (4) nor more than fifteen (15). The number may be increased or decreased from time to time by amendment of these Laws.

5.10 The Executive Council may:

  1. a) Provide advice and guidance to the General Membership as needed.
  2. b) Propose long term goals for discussion 
  3. c) Hold meetings at such places within or outside the principal office location of the organisation, as specified in the meeting notice and shall meet as often as needed.
  4. d) Except as provided herein, or by statute, or in the Articles of Incorporation, at each meeting of the Executive Council, at least a majority of the Council members shall be present in order to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. In the absence of a quorum, any Council member present may adjourn any meeting from time to time until a quorum is had. Notice of any such adjourned meetings need to be given.
  5. e) Any member of the Executive Council shall have the power to call a general meeting of the Association if the President fails to convene a general meeting on two consecutive regularly scheduled meetings.
  6. g) The Executive Council shall have a responsibility to deal with other matters as requested by the General Membership.

5.11 The Directorates

The Initiative shall establish standing directorates, which composition and structure may be changed as needed, from time to time by the General Membership. The committees may include the following:

  1. a) Legal, Strategy and Mobilization Directorate
  2. b) Economic Planning, Development and Investment Directorate
  3. c) Education and Culture Directorate
  4. d) Political Affairs Directorate
  5. e) International Affairs Directorate
  6. f) Directorate Publicity and Re-Orientation Directorate
  7. g) The number of members of each directorate shall be determined by the need of that directorate.
  8. h) Membership of the directorates shall be voluntary. This notwithstanding, the General Membership shall have the powers to elect members if there are not enough volunteers to make up a directorate.
  9. i) Each directorate shall have a chairperson appointed by the Executive Council and ratified by the General Membership. Each chairperson so appointed and ratified shall serve as a member of the Executive Council.
  10. j) The membership of each directorate shall be for a term of three years with an option of renewal.
  11. k) No member of the Association unless in special cases, shall serve in more than two directorates concurrently.
  12. l) Each directorate shall carry out duties as may be prescribed from time to time by the General Membership.

5.12 Functions of Directorates

5.12.1 Legal, Strategy and Mobilisation Directorate shall perform the following Legal, Strategy and Mobilization Directorate:

  1. a) Draft all the organisation’s laws and regulations for adoption.
  2. b) Interphase for the organisation in all legal and strategy matters
  3. c) Produce governance policies and procedures for the organisation.
  4. d) Serve as the Think Tank and powerhouse of the organisation.
  5. e) Draft also for adoption the membership admission process
  6. f) Carry out all investigations relating to the organisation, its officers, agencies and partners
  7. g) Submit legal opinion and advice to guide the organisation in all its dealings with the public, institutions and government as well as private or corporate bodies
  8. h) Carry out oversight functions on the Directorates to ensure they all remain relevant
  9. i) Provide mechanisms for legal and integrity tests for the organisation’s activities, including proposing and managing membership documentation, mobilisation, development and management of database
  10. j) Investigate and make recommendations to Central Executive Council, Delegates Assembly and Biennial General Meeting for adoption and action
  11. K) Work out mechanisms of advice on implications of the action or publications of the organisation and the relationship between the organisation and other bodies
  12. l) Carry out any other assignment that may be referred to it by the Executive and/or General Membership

5.12.2 Economic Planning, Development and Investment Directorate shall:

  1. a) Develop an economic development and Investment Blueprint of Igbo Land by the organisation.
  2. b) Develop mechanisms for the financial drive to raise adequate funds for the development of Igbo land in all its ramifications
  3. c) Seek partners in and outside Nigeria for the development purposes
  4. d) Carry out any other assignment which may be referred to the Executive and/or General Membership

5.12.3 Education and Culture Directorate shall:

  1. a) Fashion out ways and means of improving and revitalising education in Igbo land
  2. b) Develop scholarship schemes for special education in areas considered strategic, especially in teaching and sustaining the Igbo language
  3. c) Produce blueprint on how the Initiative shall embark on cultural studies and perpetuation and transmission of Igbo culture to the younger generation
  4. d) Organise Igbo language teaching forms, texts, electronic, etc, to push such campaigns as “Suba Asusu Igbo” and the like
  5. e) Carry out any other assignment that may be referred to it by the Executive and/or general membership.

5.12.4 Political Affairs Directorate

  1. a) The Directorate shall work out ways and means of forging alliances and partnerships with political parties, political associations, NGOs, CBOs, FBOs, government and government agencies, etc. in the furtherance of the aims and objectives of the Initiative.
  2. b) Carry out any other assignment that may be referred to it by the Executive and/or General membership

5.12.5 International Affairs Directorate shall:

  1. a) Galvanise the Igbo diaspora and channel their energies and synergy towards the development of Igbo land
  2. b) Work out ways and means of tapping into the resources in other countries of the world by developing workable partnerships, especially with foreign governments and international donor agencies and other international organizations.
  3. c) Work out ways and means of attracting Foreign Direct Investment in concert with Economic planning, Development and Investment Directorate
  4. d) Carry out any other assignment that may be referred to it by the Executive and/or general membership.

5.12.6 Directorate Publicity and Re-Orientation Directorate Shall: 

  1. a) Provide the blueprint for comprehensive publicity of the Initiative’s activities for a sustainable image and healthy public perception
  2. b) Drive publicity and image management of the Initiative
  3. c) Develop the logo and trademarks of the Initiative
  4. d) Create and manage websites, Facebook accounts and other social media platforms as approved
  5. e) Develop curricular and contents of the social campaigns of the Initiative aimed at correcting any perceived wrong attitude and unwholesome orientation of Ndi Igbo
  6. f) Develop and manage information dissemination platforms of the Initiative such as newsletters, magazines, as well as other print and electronic outlets that may be approved to be set up from time to time
  7. g) Carry out any other assignment that may be referred to it by the Executive and/or general membership.

5.12.7 The General Membership shall:

  1. a) Include all members of Igbo Ekunie Initiative and as defined under Article 4 of this constitution. 
  2. b) Be the most powerful organ and highest decision-making body. 
  3. c) In the event of a deadlock in the Executive Council, the president shall direct the issue to the general membership who shall cast a vote to decide and such decision shall be binding. 
  4. d) Decisions at the Executive Council and General membership shall be by simple majority unless where otherwise provided.
  5. e) All pecuniary interests in the businesses of a member/members and Igbo Ekunie Initiative shall be disclosed in advance to all members to avoid conflict of interest

Article 6(1) – TENURE OF OFFICIALS:

  1. a) The Officers: The term of each office shall be for three calendar years.
  2. b) No elected officer of the organisation shall be elected to the same office for more than two (2) consecutive terms.
  3. c) Only members in good standing as defined in Article 4(2) may vote and/or be voted for in an election for an office.
  4. d) All officers shall be elected by a simple majority of members present at regularly scheduled meetings.
  5. e) Voting may be by secret ballot, voice count, open write-in, or raise of hands, as may be decided by the General Membership.

Article 6(2) – ELECTION COMMITTEE

  1. a) The committee shall have the mandate to organise and conduct the credible election of officials to occupy elective positions of the organisation. 
  2. b) The term shall terminate upon completion of each electoral process.

Article 7 – THE STANDING DIRECTORATE:

  1. a) The term of each member shall be for 3 years, with one option of renewal.
  2. b) Membership of the standing Directorate shall be voluntary. This notwithstanding, the General Membership shall have the powers to elect members if there are not enough volunteers to make up a committee.
  3. c) The Chairperson of a standing Directorate shall be appointed by the Executive

Article 8 – FINANCE AND AUDIT:

  1. a) The financial year of the Association shall be the calendar year.
  2. b) The Executive Council shall determine the financial institution where the Association funds shall be held
  3. c) The Executive Council may determine types of accounts to be opened in the interest of the Initiative as it sees fit.
  4. d) All funds received shall be deposited within a reasonable time of receiving it.
  5. e) The Initiative funds shall in no case be used without the approval of the General Membership.
  6. f) All cheques in favour of the organisation shall be made payable to Igbo Ekunie Initiative.
  7. g) All cheques, and request for transfer or withdrawal of the organisation’s funds must be signed by any two of the following officers:

(i)The President 

(ii)The Vice President

(iii) The Secretary

(iv) The Treasurer

  1. h) Use of Association Funds – Initiative funds may not be used without prior approval of the Executive Council.
  2. i) No member shall borrow funds or enter into a credit obligation or contract on behalf of the Initiative in whatsoever amount or currency, without the prior approval of the Executive Council, and further approved by two-third (2/3rd) majority of the General Membership.

Article 9 – AUDITING 

  1. a) An annual audit of Association funds will be performed by an audit committee as shall from time to time be set up by the General Membership.
  2. b) The result of the audit including its findings shall be submitted to the General Membership.
  3. c) The penalty for misappropriation of the organisation’s funds may include suspension or outright dismissal from the organisation, or as the General Membership may see fit.

Article 10 – RESIGNATION AND VACANCY

  1. a) Any officer or member of a Directorate may resign his position in writing to the General Membership through the president.
  2. b) If an office or chairperson of a Directorate becomes vacant by resignation or any reason, the General Membership shall elect a member to occupy that position on an interim basis pending the election of another official.
  3. c) Resignation shall not relieve the officer or member of a committee of any account liability for the act of misconduct committed while in office.
  4. d) Any officer or member of a standing Directorate can be relieved of his duty by the General Membership.

Article 11 – DUES & FEES

  1. a) The registration fee is non-refundable and shall be N5,000.00 per member, or as determined annually by the General Membership.
  2. b) Annual membership dues shall be N10,000.00 per member, or as determined annually by the General Membership.
  3. c) Annual dues become due and payable on the first meeting day of the year, and become delinquent if not paid by the second meeting of the year.
  4. d) All other assessments must be paid within the period specified.
  5. e) Late payment of annual dues may attract a fine of N1,000.00 after the second meeting of the year, or as may from time to time be determined by the General Membership.
  6. f) A voluntary donation of any amount to the Association is acceptable.
  7. g) All levies must be voted on and approved by a simple majority of the General Membership present at regularly scheduled meetings.
  8. h) All payments must be recorded by the Secretary, the Financial Secretary and Treasurer.
  9. i) All dues, levies, fees, and donations paid to the Initiative are non-refundable.

Article 12 – MEETINGS

  1. a) The General meetings of the organisation shall be held monthly on Sundays, the date of which may be adjusted from time to time as may be determined by General Membership.
  2. b) The General meetings of the Initiative may be held by a teleconference or by virtual as may be determined from time to time by the General Membership.
  3. c) Except for special and emergency meetings, the Executive Council shall provide notices for general meetings at least one week in advance.
  4. d) Each general meeting will last for not more than three hours.
  5. e) A single-member supported by at least one other member may move for an adjournment of a general meeting.

Article 13 – QUORUM 

Ten (10) % of registered members present in a duly published meeting one of who must be a member of the Executive Council, shall constitute a Quorum.

Article 14 – DECORUM

  1. a) A standard of decorum is to be governed by the clauses as set out in our Code of Conducts.
  2. b) In addition or more specifically, under no circumstances should there be a use of offensive words directed against any member. 
  3. c) No member shall fight or engage in harmful acts or collusion with others against any member.
  4. d) Any misconduct by any member shall be addressed by the General Membership, which address may include sanctions by the General Membership.
  5. e) The President shall have the power to call for general and special meetings. 
  6. f) A simple majority of the Executive Council may call for general meetings if the President or and the Vice-Chairman fails to call two consecutively scheduled general meetings.
  7. g) The President shall arrange for an official hospital visit of the hospitalized member by a member of the Association. Where practical, every member is encouraged to visit the hospitalized member.

Article 15 – WELFARE/BEREAVEMENT BENEFITS 

  1. In the event that a member of the organisation becomes sick, and the association is duly informed, the president will reach out to the sick member to ascertain the seriousness of the ailment, after which the Exco will meet to agree on the necessary assistance to give to the member.
  2. In the event of loss of a member of IEI, a condolence fund of 500,000 Naira will be raised from IEI members and paid to the deceased member’s spouse or next of kin
  1. In the event that a member of the organisation loses his/her spouse, the organisation shall raise the sum of 100,000 Naira from among its members and give it to the bereaved member as a condolence fund
  2. In the event that a member of the organisation loses his/her biological parent, the organisation shall raise money from its members and payout to the bereaved member a condolence fund of 100,000 Naira only. 
  3. Only members who are fully registered and financially up to date with payment of dues and levies shall be eligible to receive the welfare package.
  4. The organisation shall from time to time review the benefit to see if further assistance is necessary and appropriate in case of death of a member, death of a member’s child or spouse, or death of a member’s biological parents.

Article 16 – DISPUTE AMONG MEMBERS

  1. a) Members are encouraged to resolve their disputes among family circles before contacting the Initiative.
  2. b) The Initiative shall accept settling disputes among members only and if such members agree to accept/or abide by the decision of the Initiative.
  3. c) Any dispute accepted by the Initiative shall be referred to the Executive Council
  4. d) Members are encouraged to resolve their disputes without the need to use court action
  5. e) No member should be allowed to support outsiders against IGBO EKUNIE members
  6. f) In a resolution of conflicts the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be applicable and jurisdiction shall be exercised by the courts of Nigeria

Article 17 – PATRONISATION PROGRAM

Members are encouraged to patronize other members’ businesses and services.

Article 18 – INDEMNIFICATION

  1. a) A member who renders service for the organisation in the course of which, his personal finance was used, (unless that member states otherwise), the organisation shall indemnify that member to the extent of the cost of that service.
  2. b) The Initiative shall however not be liable with respect to any matter in which such person has been found guilty of wilful misconduct, or fraud or material misrepresentation to the Initiative, its Executive Council and any other person or entity.

Article 19 – DISCIPLINE

  1. a) For the purpose of discipline, the Executive Council shall constitute itself into a disciplinary Committee.
  2. b) Where an executive Council member is standing accused, such member shall step down from the meetings where the executive council shall discuss the issue;
  3. c) Where the entire executive council is standing accused, the Legal, Strategy and Mobilization Directorate shall act as the disciplinary committee and shall send their report to General membership for ratification.
  4. d) The President shall have the powers to impose reasonable sanctions other than suspension or expulsion, to call an erring member to order.
  5. e) All disputes at the State Branches, Chapters and Directorates shall be resolved by a simple majority of the Central Executive Council 

Article 20 – APPEAL

Appeal against the ruling of the executive council may be made to the next General membership, where a simple majority may set aside or confirm that ruling.

Article 21 – AMENDMENTS OF THE LAWS

  1. a) The General Membership shall have the exclusive powers to amend, add, alter, or repeal any part of Article of this constitution.
  2. b) The General Membership by a vote of two-thirds (2/3rd) of a meeting at which a quorum was formed, may alter, amend, or repeal any part of Article of this constitution.

Article 22 – DISSOLUTION OF IGBO EKUNIE INITIATIVE

The organisation shall be dissolved when:

  1. a) There continuously are less than FOUR active members or
  2. b) 90% of the existing membership at a duly informed general meeting vote in favour of dissolution. 
  3. c) The dissolution shall be an item on the agenda and voting shall be by secret ballot.
  4. d) Upon dissolution, the assets of IGBO EKUNIE Initiative shall go to either
  5. i) Some or a Charitable organisation in the 5 South East states; or
  6. ii) The Nigerian Child Welfare Agency working in Igboland; or

iii) Any non-governmental national organisation for the handicapped in the South East.

Article 23 – BYE LAWS & CODE OF CONDUCTS

By using our forum, we hereby accept that we shall not:

  1. Post, publish or submit materials that;
    1. a) Infringes the copyright of another person (plagiarism, or passing off other people’s material as your own) or copyright materials not correctly referenced or acknowledged.
    2. b) contains vulgar, obscene or indecent language or images.
    3. c) Defames, abuses or threatens other members.d) Promotes or
    4. d) discuss illegal activities with the intent to commit such.
  2. Make statements that are hateful or offensive to other members.
  3. Shout or make unnecessary use of exclamatory remarks.
  4. Spread or disseminate false information or news material without providing the source or link to such information.
  5. Embark on personal attacks on members.
  6. Engage in any attempt to try to convert members to any political party.
  7. Refuse to withdraw or apologise for any offensive remark when called or asked to do so by the majority of the members or by the president.
  8. Refuse to apologise for unbecoming behaviour, reaction or outburst when requested to do so.
  9. Post irrelevant messages, pictures or videos that have absolutely nothing to do with the furtherance of Igbo affairs.
  10. Please Note: All users are required to sign their messages with their name if their name is not displayed on their status message.

BREACH OF THE CODE OF CONDUCT

  1. a) It will be the decision of the Legal directorate as to whether there has been a breach of this Code of Conduct.
  2. b) Failure to comply with this Code of Conduct constitutes a material breach of the Forum’s Terms, and may result in any of the following actions by the Legal Directorate:

(i) Issue a warning to the offending member in the first instance and if not heeded impose a fine to be fixed by the General House; or

(ii) Immediate, temporary or permanent removal of the member’s account from this Forum provided that in cases where expulsion from IEI has to be embarked on in the case of a recalcitrant member, the legal directorate should recommend such to EXCO which shall then take it to the general house for approval and ratification subject to paragraph 12 (i) being complied with;

(iii) Disclosure of necessary information to law enforcement authorities or other relevant third parties as we may reasonably feel necessary.

  1. 2/3rd majority of exco  is required to accept a proposed penalty from legal or an amended one proffered in exco against any erring member
  2. a) An accused member must be given the right of fair hearing at the code of Conduct Panel to be constituted by the head of the Legal Directorate before any actions can be taken.
  3. b) A member who feels aggrieved has to report the matter to the president or his vice within 48hrs of such happening
  4. c) If the accused and his accuser resolve their issues, then no further action is required
  5. d) If the aggrieved feels his matter was not properly handled by the president or vice president, then he is at liberty to refer the matter directly to the legal directorate
  6. e) If the president or his vice is the accused, then the matter has to be referred directly to legal if no amicable settlement is reached
  7. A register has to be kept by the provost detailing all the warnings and disciplinary measures already meted out to defaulters.
  8. Congress will always be notified once any disciplinary action is to be taken against any member
  9. A disagreement in congress may lead to a vote
  10. Once a decision has been collectively deliberated upon and voted upon and adopted and ratified, no member shall be allowed to re-visit such decision in the following 2 months on the chat forum or call conference meeting unless such member raises a new motion and provides reasons for a reversal of the decision which must be supported by at least one- fifth of all IEI financial members to enable the house to deliberate on the motion for reversal and thereafter vote on it.
  11. Any member who contravenes this should be fined to the tune of 5.000 Naira and refusal to pay may lead to suspension until the fine is paid.