RATTAWU President Pleads; Admits Financial Impropriety.

The President of Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers’ Union ( RATTAWU) Com . Kabir Garba Tsanni had yesterday admitted guilt in the case of financial recklessness levied against him after thorough investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Comrade Tsanni admitted that he committed the crime as allerged by the petitioner. He also admitted that he had not been paying check off dues to the FCT and other chapters in some of the months, in 2019.

After being taken through evidence, the embattled President admitted that he had breached the Union’s constitution in paying to chapters less than 25% as enshrined in the constitution.

Comrade Tsanni, who was alleged by a section of the Union membership to have unconstitutionally extended his tenure, also admitted paying the Caretaker Committee of the concerned chapters, on 8th of January, this year, from proceeds of the check off due owed the chapters in 2019.

When queried for making part payments to the Caretakers without passing through the EFCC, despite being under investigation, he admitted that he also goofed and pleaded for forgiveness.

While inviting the various Caretaker Committee members of various Chapters where elected officers have been sacked to appear before it, the EFCC directed Com Tsanni to refund all the money owed all concerned chapters through a bank draft not later than 5th May, 2021 to the EFCC as part of recovery and to also serve as evidence,

It could be recalled that Comrade Kabir Tsanni was dragged to the EFCC in 2019 for short-changing the various chapters in the FCT by a member of the Union. He has been under investigation. He was released on bail to two sureties late last year but allegedly refused to appear on the day he was expected to appear thereby prompting the Anti-graft agency to issue a summon to his sureties to produce him on Tuesday 4th, May 2021.

Comrade Tsanni was alleged to have lied that he was involved in an accident which made it impossible for him to appear as invited.

RATTAWU which prides itself as the largest Union of composite media and culture professionals has been in the news for wrong reasons lately. The vibrancy of the Union was said to have begun to wane shortly after the immediate past President, Com Yemi Bamgbose left and Com Garba Tsanni, a Katsina-born staff of Ministry of Culture took over office in 2016.

Com Garba Tsanni who had recently received leadership and transparency awards from two organizations has been under fire from an opposition team known as RATTAWU Rescue Team. Part of their grouse with him, according some of their social media editorials, includes high-handedness, self-enrichment and breaches of the Union Constitution. However, a group loyal to the President claims that the allegations were mischievous, borne out of hatred and an attempt to drag their leader in the mud.

RATTAWU has been unable to hold its Delegate Conference as a result various litigations one of which is said to have halted the process of electing a new leadership for the Union