•  An applicant for membership shall be at least Twenty One years (21), if male, and Forty years old (40) if Female, PROVIDED that any applicant who is the wife of a member may be initiated if she is not less than Thirty years old (30).

•  A member may propose for admission a female offspring or near relation who is a spinster or divorcee of not less than Thirty years (30) of age on giving a written undertaking of good behaviour of such applicant.

•  Any female applicant who is married at the time of application and whose husband is not a member of the fraternity must
produce a letter of consent from her husband.

SECTION 3: AIMS AND OBJECTS

•  To associate for the promotion of the Principle of Universal Fatherhood of God - the All-Seeing Eye, and Universal Brotherhood of Man, without any discrimination as to Race, Colour Creed, Sex, Religion or Political Affiliation.

To associate for the principal purpose of knowing God better such that all the undertakings of the fraternity will be in accordance with His Holy will.

•  To encourage the diffusion of the practice of benevolence, charity and chastity.

•  To offer assistance (as a bounding duty) to all poor and distressed members and non-members, without detriment to themselves and their connections, or injustice to others who are not members of this Fraternity.

•  To see to the mortal remains of any deceased members by providing a coffin or financial assistance up to a reasonable cost and to give his/her remains a decent deposit in the bosom of Mother Earth.

•  To inculcate in all members, the constant practice of the Golden Rule, "to do unto others (members and non-members) as one would wish them to do unto him".

•  To provide necessary funds for the successful prosecution of the business of the Fraternity, according to this Constitution.

•  To keep and obey the Laws and Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and those of any other Country in which one resides.

SECTION 4: REGISTERED OFFICE

•  The Registered Office (Headquarters) of the Fraternity shall be - 38 Abeokula Street , Ebute-Metta, Lagos State , Nigeria

•  Branches of the Fraternity may however be established anywhere as the Supreme Council shall deem fit.

SECTION 5: TENURE OF OFFICE

All offices in the fraternity shall be held for life and subject to good behaviour.

SECTION 6: ORGANS OF THE FRATERNITY

•  The Fraternity shall be registered under the Friendly Society Act, the Land Perpetual Succession Act, Cap '98 Laws of the Federation or any other relevant Act and shall be composed of:

1. The Supreme Council

2. Executive Council

3. Regional Council

4. Divisional Council

5. General Council

6. Conclaves

SECTION 7: POWERS AND FUNCTIONS

(A) SUPREME COUNCIL

There shall be created the offices of the Olori Oluwo, and the Olori Apena. Appointments to the two (2) offices shall be made by the Supreme Council from the ranks of the Oluwo and the Apena respectively. They shall hold office for life.

The Olori Oluwo and Olori Apena shall be members of the Supreme Council, the Executive Council, and the General Council. The Olori Oluwo shall preside at all meetings.

The Olori Oluwo and/or the Olori Apena shall have power to grant dispensation in any case or matter, when necessity demands it in the interest of the Fraternity, and report thereafter to the Supreme Council.

In the event of a vacancy in the ranks of the Olori Oluwo or the Olori Apena the Supreme Council shall meet expressly for the purpose of electing, by secret ballot a successor to the vacant office. The Olori Apena shall preside at the meeting, if the vacancy to be filled is that of Olori Oluwo.

The Supreme Council shall be the Competent Authority of the Fraternity and shall be its Governing body.

It shall consist of the following:

    (i) (a)  The Olori Oluwo, The Olori Apena and thirteen (13) others.

    Nine of the thirteen shall be elected; two (2) from Lagos , Western,    Mid-Western and Eastern Regions and one (1) from the Northern    Region respectively. The two (2) other members will be appointed    by the Olori Oluwo and the Olori Apena after consultation with each    other, and there shall also be two (2) special members who shall be appointed by the Supreme Council.

(b) The nine elected members must be from the rank of Alakoso from each region, while the four (4) nominated members may be Alakoso, Oluwo, Apena or Lisa. Such nominees shall by virtue if their appointment become members of the Executive Council.

(ii)      Every nominated or elected member shall serve on the Supreme Council for a period of three (3) years PROVIDED that nothing shall stop any member from being re-elected/or re-nominated after he has served the 1st term or terms PROVIDED he is not immediately  re- elected/re-nominated after two consecutive terms.

5.      The Supreme Council shall have power to co-opt any member of the Fraternity for a particular purpose and for a specified period.


6.      The Supreme Council shall meet normally thrice a year, but it may meet as often as the Olori Oluwo may decide


7.      The overall control of the Fraternity shall be vested in the Olori Oluwo who shall be the HEAD of the Reformed Ogboni Fraternity. He shall preside at all meetings of the Supreme Council, the Executive Council, and the General Council.

8.       (a)   In the event of the Olori Oluwo being absent at any of the meetings of the Supreme Council, Executive Council, or General Council, the Olori Apena shall preside.

(b)   In the event of the Olori Oluwo and the Olori Apena being absent at any of the meetings of the Supreme Council, Executive Council or  the General Council, the most senior member of the Supreme Council there present shall preside.

9.      (a)  At the meeting of the Supreme Council five (5) members shall form a quorum.

(b)  The Olori Oluwo and the Olori Apena shall have power to act for the Supreme Council particularly in matters of appointments and shall report back to the Supreme Council at its next meeting.

10.        The Supreme Council shall have power to create new offices as may be found necessary for the proper working of the conclaves or the Fraternity in general and shall have power to abolish any of the existing office or offices it considers necessary.

11.        The Supreme Council shall report annually to the General Council its activities. Matters of general and overall interest, decided by the Supreme Council shall be circulated by the Olori Apena to the conclaves.

12.        The Supreme Council shall have power to vote money from the General Funds of the Fraternity to defray secretarial and other incidental expenses, of which a true and accurate.


13.       The travelling expenses of officers attending meetings of the Supreme Council shall be met from the General Funds of the Fraternity.


14.       There shall be created a Council of all Oluwo, all Lisa, all Apena and all Iyabiye Conference and shall hold annual conference to be presided over by the Olori Oluwo.

(B) EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

There shall be created an Executive Council which shall consist:

(a)   All Alakoso of the Divisions

(b)   The Oluwo, Apena, and Lisa of Iledi-Nla, the Premier Conclave

(c) Any such member or members of the Fraternity not below the rank of Lisa, as the Olori Oluwo and the Supreme Council may deem fit.

The Executive Council shall have power to co-opt any member of the Fraternity for a particular purpose and for a specified duration.

(a)   The Executive Council shall be responsible for the activities of all  conclaves through the Divisional Council. It shall meet three times in the year at such time and place as the Olori Oluwo may decide but emergency meetings may be summoned at any time.

(b)  The Executive Council shall also be responsible for disciplinary action in respect of misconduct of members of the fraternity and its decision shall be final unless appeal is lodged to the Supreme Council there against.

(a)  The financial position of each Conclave in relation to headquarters fees and authorised levies should be made available at the Executive Council meetings shall be met from the Divisional Councils Funds.

(b)    The travelling expenses of officers of the Fraternity attending the Executive Council meetings shall be met from the Divisional Councils Funds.

(C)        REGIONAL COUNCIL:

A Regional Council shall consist of three representatives of Oluwo, Apena, and Lisa of a Division and their Alakoso and their meeting shall be conducted under the chairmanship of the Alakoso in whose Division the meeting is being held, in rotation within the region. It shall be held quarterly in order to accelerate action appealed cases. A Regional Secretary shall be appointed.

The Regional Council shall consist of the Divisional Councils in the Regional Area of i.e. Lagos Region one, Lagos Region two, Eastern Region one, Easternn Region two, Midwest Region one, Midwest Region two, and Northern Region and shall hold joint Council Meeting on matters of  Common Interest of the Fraternity in their respective Regions.

(a)  One third of the members of the Regional Council shall form a quorum of the meeting of the Council.


(b)  All matters of unresolved dispute shall be referred from the Divisional Council to Regional Council and then to Executive Council whose decisions shall be final unless appeal is lodged with the Supreme Council, whose decision shall then be final.

It shall be lawful for all Apena in a Regional Council to hold Apena's Regional Council meeting which shall meet two times in a year on matters of common interest particularly concerning the working of the Ritual of the Fraternity. 

An Olutu Apena shall be appointed and officially installed by the Olori Apena for each Apena Regional Council Meetings and he shall oversee the activities of the Apena in his region on behalf of the Olori Apena.

The Regional Council shall have appellate jurisdiction to hear and determine and appeals from the decisions of the Divisional Councils in all matters in accordance with relevant Provisions of this Constitution.

(D) DIVISIONAL COUNCILS

A number of Conclaves, within a defined area shall be grouped together, to constitute a Divisional Council, comprising the Oluwo, the Apena and the Lisa of the respective Conclaves.

Each Division shall be placed under the control of An Alakoso who shall be appointed by the Supreme Council. If the Council so desires, it shall appoint an ALAKOSO on the recommendation of the Divisional Council at a meeting of members present and voting by secret ballot in the presence of the Olori Oluwo and the Olori Apena of their representatives. He shall be appointed from either the rank of Oluwo or the Rank of Apena in the Division.

The Supreme Council however, reserves the right to reject such recommended candidates, on reasonable grounds, or if it is not in accordance with the directions of the Olori Oluwo and the Olori Apena present at the meeting.

In appointing an Alakoso, due care is required. This office is not necessarily an office  for the elderly, but for the energetic man who should be able to travel around in his Division and perform Secretarial duties like keeping of Records and Minutes of meetings and Statement of Account. Whilst holding his normal office of Oluwo or Apena, as the case maybe; he remains the Chief Executive of his Division.

(a)  The Alakoso, although the Chief Executive of the Division shall not, at any time, displace the Oluwo or Apena of any Conclave and shall not preside at its meeting by virtue of his position, whenever he pays a visit to a Conclave. He will take his seat by the side of the Oluwo or Apena of the conclave he visits during the proceedings of the Conclave.

(b)  The Alakoso shall preside over the meetings of the Divisional Council but should he be unavoidably absent the most senior Oluwo or the most senior Apena may preside.

(a)  The Divisional Council shall meet once every quarter provided that the Alakoso may summon meetings of the Council.

(b)  Minutes of the Meetings of the Divisional Council shall be forwarded to the Executive Council through the OloriApena, and copies retained at the Fraternity's Headquarters.

The Supreme Council shall have power to remove an Alakoso who does not enforce the Constitution/General Bye-Laws in his division or if he fails to enforce disciplinary actions in his division.

(E) GENERAL COUNCIL

A General Council, which shall act in all matters as an Advisory Body to the Supreme
Council, shall be set up.

The Council shall consist of all members of the Supreme and Executive Councils, the Oluwo, Apena and Lisa or all Conclaves. The Olori Oluwo shall be the Chairman. One hundred and eight (108) members shall form a quorum.

The Council shall meet annually, in October but not later than the last Saturday in October (unless the Supreme Council decides otherwise), provided that at least six (6) weeks notice shall be given to members emergencies excepted.

The Council shall have power to co-opt any member of the Fraternity, if and when necessary. 

No Conclave, which is in arrears of the general assessment, shall be allowed to take part in the deliberations of the Council. A list of Conclaves qualified to vote for the year shall be presented to the Council by the Olori Apena, in such form as the Supreme Council may, from time to time determine.

It shall be the duty of the Apena of all Conclaves to submit full particulars of the standing of their members to the Olori Apena, not later than the second week in August of each year.

No notice of motion shall be placed on the agenda of the Council except those approved by the Divisional Council. PROVIDED always that motion from Conclaves for the meeting of the Council shall reach the Olori Apena not later than Eight (8) weeks before the meeting.

SECTION 8 TRUSTEES

There shall be Six (6) Trustees, who shall be known as "The Registered Trustees" of the Reformed Ogboni Fraternity and shall comprise, the Olori Oluwo, the Olori Apena and four other members to be appointed by the Supreme Council.

The Trustees shall hold office for life, but any Trustee shall cease to function as such if he:

Resigns his Office Ceases to be a member of the Reformed Ogboni Fraternity

Becomes insane or seriously ill and unable to function for a long period.

Is officially declared bankrupt by a Court of Law

Is convicted for a criminal offence involving dishonesty by a Court of Law.

Is recommended for removal from office by the Supreme Council.

In the event of the office of a Trustee becoming vacant, the Supreme Council shall appoint another eligible member from its own body.  

All Deeds, Documents, Titles and Securities for the monies of the Fraternity shall be held  by the Trustees, who shall take reasonable measures to safeguard and preserve them in the interest and at the expense of the Fraternity.

They shall be responsible for the safe custody of these and other valuable possession of the Fraternity and shall produce them whenever so required by the Fraternity, for inspection of the Auditors or other accredited representatives of the Fraternity.

All documents to be executed by the Trustees shall be signed by each of them and sealed with the Common Seal of the Fraternity.

(a)   The Trustees shall be the legal representatives of the Fraternity in any legal proceedings affecting its interest. They shall be jointly and severally responsible for the actions.

(b)    It shall be the duty of the Trustees to ensure the incorporation at all times of the Fraternity under the Land. (Perpetual Succession) Act Cap '98 Laws of the Federation or other relevant laws.

The act of Three (3) Trustees, who shall include the Olori Aluwo and the Olori Apena, shall be binding upon the Fraternity, provided a circular of the meeting of the Trustees, for the purpose of the said act has been issued and served on all the Trustees.

SECTION 9 PROPERTIES OF THE FRATERNITY

The property of the Fraternity in Nigeria or in any other part of the world shall be vested in the Trustees who shall have authority to sue and be sued in respect of such property or properties.

Any real or immovable property possessed or acquired by a Conclave shall be vested or be deemed to be vested in the Fraternity.

Every conclave shall surrender all documents of title or such other evidence of title to such property to the Fraternity for Custody thereof by the Trustees of the Fraternity.

SECTION 10 ALAGA IYABIYE

There shall be created, the office of Alagal Iyabiye who shall be appointed by the Supreme Council from the rank of Iyabiye in a Division and shall hold office for life.

The Alaga Iyabiye shall preside at eh meeting of all Iyabiye in her Division and should she be unavoidably absent, the most senior Iyabiye shall preside.

All Alaga Iyabiye in a Region may hold a joint meeting for the interest of the Fraternity and such meetings shall be presided over by the most senior Alaga Iyabiye present at the meeting.

SECTION 11 OFFICERS AND OTHER DUTIES

For the proper and efficient working of every Conclave, the following officers shall be appointed and rank under the banners of the OLUWO, the APENA, the IYABIYE, as indicated hereunder PROVIDED ALWAYS that the Iyabiye shall only communicate through the APENA to the Iwarefa Mefa.  

  OLUWO APENA IYABIYE

The Lisa The Ashipa The Olori Erelu

The Ojomu The Otunbade The Iyalaje

The Aro The Osorun The Iyalate

The Odofin The Baase The Iyaloja

The Baajito The Baala The Lika

The Baajipe The Asalu The Yeyelufe

The Agbaakin The Olori Egan The Iyabese

The Baagbimo The Baaloja

The Abese The Apesin

The Baasala The Baasere

 

2. Their duties are as follows:

(i)     THE OLUWO

President with Regal Honours. No business can be transacted within the Conclave without his authority or sanction. In the absence of the Oluwo the lisa shall deputise for him, in the absence of the Lisa then the Officer next in rank, provided that such other Iwarefa shall have no power to invest any member with insignia of office or decoration.

(ii)      THE APENA

Master of Ceremonies, Custodian of the Emblems of the Conclave, and spokesman during meetings of the Conclave. No meeting can be held in his absence unless one of his assistants is present or someone who is qualified is authorised to deputise for him.

The Supreme Council may on the recommendation of any Conclave appoint and invest an Adele Apena for the Conclave.

(iii)     THE LISA

Chairman of all Titled Iwarefa and medium of communication between them and the Oluwo and the Apena. He will act as Deputy for the Oluwo when necessary. He shall also arbitrate whenever disputes and misunderstanding arise among Iwarefas.

(iv)    THE OJOMU

Receiver of all reports of sickness or death of any member for financial relief or provision of coffin within reasonable means. On the death of any member he becomes the Deputy "OLOWU" while the Osorun act as "APENA" for funeral purposes only.

(v)      THE ARO

Receiver of all reports about members in distress for relief and arbitrator of misunderstanding between a member and a novice.

(vi)    THE ODOFIN

Examiner of visiting Iwarefas from other Conclaves. Receiver of all applications for affiliations and Secretary of the Executive Committee.

(vii)   THE ASHIPA

Amanuensis of the Oluwo and the Apena in whose name and on whose order he is to issue all communications; he is also the receiver of all reports to his Conclave through the Apena. He is the Chief distributor of anything to be shared.

(viii) THE OTUNBADE

Marshal of members on entering the Conclave; herald of new visiting members after due examination. Supervisor of all "Omo Awo" or newly initiated candidates.

(ix)    THE OSORUN

Principal undertaker at the funeral of a member under the direction of the Ojomu. He or whoever is appointed among the IWAREFA other than any Apena by the Ojomu shall conduct the burial in accordance with the ritual.

(x)     THE BAASE

Treasurer of all refreshment fund and Chief Overseer of food to be laid before members.

(xi)     THE BAALA

Controller of all drinkables under whose direction members are to be served during refreshment. He also sees to the comfort of all guests.

(xii)    THE ASALU

Collector of all monthly dues, Chief Accountant of the Conclave and supervisor of the Conclave's fabric.

(xiii)   THE BAAJITO

Receiver of all complaints from any novice against a member for report to the Aro for due action and enquirer into the cause or causes of indifference or laxity of attendance by a member.

(xiv)   THE BAAJIPE

Host of guests or members from abroad having no friend in town and receiver of reports about distant members in distress of under adverse circumstances.

(xv)   THE AGBAAKIN

Leader of all 'Iwarefa' without title and spokesman whenever they have anything to communicate to the Oluwo and the Apena in Council.

(xvi) THE OLORI EGAN

Leader of all members in Egan Oke or Egan Arin Grades and their spokesman whenever they have anything to bring to the notice of the Oluwo and the Apena in Council.

(xvii) THE APESIN

This is a title that may be conferred on an Iwarefa who so commands the respect of members.

(xviii) THE BAASSALA

One to whom members run for assistance when in difficulty.

(xix)   THE BAASERE

Leader of the drummers in the Conclave.

(xx)     THE BAALOJA

   Collector and recorder of dues for Benevolence

(xxviii) THE LIKA

Marshal of Omo Awo. Ogboni and other female members on entering and retiring from the Conclave. She shall examine all female members before presenting them to the Iyabiye and Apena. She is the secretary to the female executive body.

(xix)   THE YEYELUFE

Must be an elderly female member of experience and who commands real respect among the female members. All disputes or misunderstandings among the female members of the conclave shall be referred to her by the Iyabiye for settlement.

(xx)    THE IYABESE

Counterpart of the Ashipa to the female section of a Conclave.

SECTION 12: FINANCE

The fund of the Fraternity shall be raised from:

Initiation and Exaltation Fees

Monthly/Annual Maintenance

Levies or General Assessments

Voluntary Donations

Income from Investments

Profits on sales of the Fraternity's Publications, Commissioned
by the Fraternity

All initiation, Exaltation, Elevation and Affiliation Fees shall be paid to the Apena for due disposal by the executive body of the Conclave in accordance with disposal instructions issued by the Supreme Council, from time to time, after paying the amounts due to the Headquarters of the Fraternity, Divisional Council and the General Fund of the Conclave.

(Funds of the Conclave and report later to the Executive Body of the Conclave. In such cases, however, accurate Accounts of such disbursement must be kept.)

The accounting period of the Fraternity, for every year shall be the calendar from January 1st to December 31st of each year.

The Olori Apena with the assistance of the Finance Manager and Financial Secretary of the Fraternity shall keep proper Books of Accounts together with Accumulated Fund Account of the Fraternity for the quarter ending 31st March, half-year ending 30th June, nine months ending 30th September each year and present same to the meeting of the Supreme Council immediately after each period.

In addition an Audited Account of the Fraternity for the year ending 31st December shall be prepared by the Auditors and presented each  year to the Supreme Council by the Auditor(s) to the Fraternity together with their report.

It shall be the responsibility of the Supreme Council through the Olori Apena to ensure that the Audited Annual Accounts of the Fraternity are distributed to the members of both the Executive and the General Councils at their first meeting after the financial year.

There shall be appointed a Committee of three members (or more) to be known as Financial Committee that will act as internal Auditors to the Fraternity. The terms of reference of the Committee shall be determined by the Supreme Council.

The Apena of each Conclave, with the assistance of the Asalu, shall keep proper Books of Account of the Conclave and shall prepare the detailed Statement of Account of the Conclave for the quarter ending 31st March, half-year ending 30th June and Nine months ending 30th September each  year which he will present to the Executive Body of the Conclave for approval at its meeting of April, July and October each year.


A copy shall also be submitted to Apenas Council of May, August and November to confirm compliance. It shall be the responsibility of the Apena, with the assistance of the Asalu, to prepare Statement of Receipts and Payments Accounts and
the Accumulated Fund Account of the Conclave for each Calendar year ending 31st December and cause the accounts to be audited.

The audited accounts shall be presented to the Executive Body of the Iledi for acceptance and shall be distributed to all members of the Conclave on or before the end of February of each year. The Apena must give copies of these Returns to the Alakoso of his Division.

Auditors shall be appointed from time to time by the Supreme Council, in the case of the Fraternity's end of year Accounts, and by the Conclave in respect  of the end of year accounts of the Conclave from competent members of the  Fraternity or of the Conclave, who shall audit the accounts of the Fraternity or  the Conclave as the case may be. If there is no competent member in a Conclave to audit the accounts of the Conclave, the Divisional Council's Auditor shall be invited to carry out the audit of the Conclave's Account.

All Books of Account, relevant records, and documents, shall be made available to the Auditors for the purpose of the audit.  Auditor shall be invited to carry out the audit of the Conclave's Account. All Books of Account, relevant records, and documents, shall be made available to the Auditors for  the purpose of the audit.

SECTION 13: DISCIPLINE

(a)   Disciplinary action shall, initially be a matter of the offender's Conclave.

(b)   The Conclave after due investigation may recommend the suspension of an offender and in very serious cases of misconduct may recommend the expulsion of such offender to the Divisional Council for ratification.  

(c)   The recommendation for suspension shall take immediate effect from the date of ratification by the Divisional Council subject to right of appeal to the Regional Council and the Executive Council.  

(d)  Cases of Expulsion shall not take effect until they are ratified by the Executive Council.  

e)   The Supreme Council, and no other body whatsoever, may re-admit into the Fraternity member who had been expelled.  

All matters in dispute in any Conclave that cannot be resolved by the Executive Body of the Conclave shall, in the first instance, be referred to the Divisional Council.

 The Supreme Council shall be the last resort for enforcement of discipline in the Fraternity. All matters of discipline shall be dealt with by the Executive Council, whose decision shall be final unless appeal is lodged with the Supreme Council.  

No member of the Reformed Ogboni Fraternity shall under any circumstances, be allowed to continue membership of the Fraternity on conviction for felony, or any other dishonest or fraudulent offence, by a court of competent jurisdiction.

No Conclave may circularise other Conclaves about the expulsion of any of its members until this is confirmed; and no expulsion is valid unless duly signed by the Olori Apena on behalf of the Supreme Council.

The misconduct of any member shall be discussed or gone into by members of his or her rank only. Members of higher ranks may sit as judges over matters affecting those below their ranks.

It shall be lawful for the Olori Oluwo, or any person acting for him to order the exit, from the meeting of the General Council, the Executive Council, and the Supreme Council of any member whose conduct he considers NOT to be in the best interest of the meeting.

Any member of this Fraternity who may have any grievance of any kind whatsoever, against any member of the Fraternity, shall first exhaust his remedy in the various tribunals of the Fraternity, before resorting to the Court of Law.  

It shall be lawful for the presiding Alakoso or any person acting for him at the Regional, the Divisional Council meeting to order the exit from the meeting of any member whose conduct is considered not to be in the best interest of the meeting.

SECTION 14 OPENING OF NEW CONCLAVES  

The Supreme Council shall have full powers and Authority to issue Dispensations or Warrants for the Opening of New Conclaves, and for instituting such new Conclave in such manner as may be provided by the regulations of the Fraternity.  

No members or members of the Reformed Ogboni Fraternity shall form or constitute or take part in forming or constituting a separate Conclave of this Fraternity without Warrant from the Supreme Council duly signed by the Olori Oluwo and the Olori Apena.

The Rituals of the Conclaves shall be worked in any language into which it may be translated on the approval of the Supreme Council PROVIDED that the pass words shall at all times and in all places, be given in no language other than YORUBA.  

The Executive Lady of each Conclave shall be known and called "IWAREFA MEFA". It shall consist of the Oluwo, the Apena, the Lisa, the Ojomu, the Aro and the Odofin.

The officers of a Conclave other than the officers to be appointed by the Supreme Council shall be appointed from those of the rank of Iwarefa and Erelu of the Conclave, and shall hold their respective offices for life, unless disqualified by conviction for felony, or any dishonest or fraudulent - offence, expulsion or any other form of disqualification provided for in the Bye-Laws of such Conclave. PROVIDED that every such officer shall be eligible to be considered and advanced to fill higher offices when such vacancies occur.  

The Apena, the Ojomu, the Ashipa, the Osorun, the Baase, the Baala and the Asalu and also the Iyalaje, the Iyalate, the Iyaloja and Iyabese, are entitled to the support of two Assistants each to be known as "Otun" and "Osi" respectively and appointed by the Executive Body of the Conclave. It shall be the duly of such Assistants to help in whatever the substantive holders of the offices request them to do within the provision of the Fraternity's Constitution.  General Bye-Laws and the Conclaves's Bye-Laws. These "Otun" and "Osi" females are not entitled to wear "Ipele".  

An "Adele" (caretaker) shall be appointed and initiated free of charge, as a serving Brother, PROVIDED that no such "Adele" may be elevated to Iwarefa grade without paying the fees stipulated by the Supreme Council.

The Olori Oluwo and the Olori Apena shall have a ruling function at the meeting of any Conclave whenever they attend.

All Conclaves shall furnish Annual Reports of their activities including their Audited Accounts to the Divisional Councils not later than 28th February of each year. Disciplinary measures shall be taken against any Conclave which fails to comply.

  An acting officer may be appointed by the Oluwo and the Apena with the consent of   the Executive Body of the Conclave to function with full powers during the temporary absence of a substantive officer. Acting officers are however temporary Officers; their  offices lapse on the assumption of substantive holders of the offices, and such  temporary officer shall not be carried to any other Conclave as an honorary office.

Conferment of titles and decoration of the Conclave with Itagbe shall be only on the   recommendation of the Iyabiye to the Apena, for approval of the Executive of the  Conclave PROVIDED that no member shall be superseded without justifiable reasons  being adduced and verified to be correct.

Installation and investiture of the Oluwo, the Apena, the Lisa, Ojomu, Aro, Odofin, and   Adele Apena, the Iyabiye, the Olori Eretu, Iyalaje, Iayalate, Iyaloja, Lika, shall be performed by the Olori Oluwo and the Olori Apena or their duly accredited   representatives.  All other officers shall be invested by the Oluwo and the Apena of the respective Conclaves.

An honorarium shall be paid by any member on whom title (office) is conferred.

It shall be the duty of any Iwarefa or Eretu who is given a title, to perform the "Iwuye" Ceremony before he or she can be accorded full recognition of the Title. 

  SECTION 15: INITIATION AND ENROLMENT

Applicant shall write an application naming three (3) members as referees of which at least preferably two (2) shall be members of that Iledi. All applications for membership shall be submitted to the Apena of the Conclave for the onward consideration of the Executive Body.

Applications shall be read by the Apena at the open Conclave meeting and after there is no preliminary objection the applicant shall be issued with form. 

Applications and admission fees which shall be determined from time to time by the Supreme Council shall be paid by the Applicant to the Apena in the presence of one (1) of his/her sponsors.    

There shall be a Character Investigation Committee in every Conclave. No candidate shall be admitted until thorough investigation as to his/her character has been made by that Committee which reports its findings to the Executive Body of the Conclave for final
decisions.

In the case of a female candidate, the applicant shall further be introduced or referred to the Iyabiye and her Erelu together with a copy of the completed form 3 for thorough enquiries, and their report shall be passed to the Executive Body of the Iledi.  

It shall be the duty of the Apena of every Conclave to send Notice of application for admission on R.O.F. Form 4 to:-

The Conclaves in the Division in which the home town or birth place of the applicant is situated.

The Conclaves in the Region in which the applicant seeks admission, and

The Central Registry of the Fraternity, at the Reformed Ogboni Fraternity Headquarters, 38 Abeokuta Street, Ebute-Metta, Lagos, Nigeria.

Thereafter the Apena of the Conclave shall, at the next Idaji meeting of the Conclave read out the particulars of the Applicant of the Conclaves as stated in the R.O.F. form 4 so that all members may be aware of the particulars of the applicant.  

The name shall be read out at two (2) more subsequent monthly Idaji meeting for all members to make enquiries about the Candidate and to have opportunity to raise an objection privately to any member of the Executive Committee of the Conclave.  

(i) The details of the Candidate must be presented to the Divisional Council of the Conclaves to which the application is directed for the consideration and approval or rejection of the Divisional Council before the initiation of the Candidate.  

(ii) The candidate shall be interviewed by the Executive Body of the Conclave to determine his/her suitability.  

(iii) If there is no objection by any member of the Conclave or members of the Fraternity or from any other Conclave within the stipulated 3 months and approval of the Divisional Council the Candidate may be initiated in open Conclave.

  Candidate (male/female) for initiated must be presented to the Iyabiye before they are initiated.  

If the candidate is rejected either by any member of the Conclave itself or by any  member in the Branches or in any Region or division or from the Headquarters of the Fraternity, his/her name shall be forwarded to the Divisional Council to which the Conclave belongs and the Central Registry of the Fraternity for record purpose.  

Objection to a candidate shall be on reasonable grounds; and what is reasonable in this connection is primarily a matter for the Division, and if necessary an appeal shall lie to the Executive Council.  

 All candidates shall be initiated according to the approved rituals before enrolment as members after rituals in open Conclave and in regular Idaji Meeting day.

 By special dispensation of the Olori Oluwo and/or the Olori Apena on behalf of the Supreme Council, a deserving candidate may be initiated without the above formalities.

SECTION 16: MEETINGS

1. Each Conclave shall hold its General Meeting once a month. No meeting of the Fraternity may be held during the absence of the Apena in the Fraternity. No meetings shall be held on Sundays or on public holidays. The Conclave shall hold its meeting a week before or after the public holiday. No meeting may last for more than two hours unless with the dispensation of the Olori Apena. No meeting must start after 7.00pm

2. The Warrant of each conclave shall be conspicuously displayed in the Conclave at the general meetings. No general meeting may be held without the display of the warrant.

3. No political or Religious topics may be discussed at the meeting of any Conclave, nor should a Conclave concern itself with politics or religion.

4. Proper decorum and implicit obedience must be observed during the conduct or any meeting of the Conclave. The Apena shall not be interrupted in the discharge of his duties, nor shall any controversy take place while the meeting has the Emblems laid out in due form.

5. No visitor shall be admitted to any meeting of a Conclave without first presenting his/her credentials duly signed by the Apena of his/her Conclave, except at the discretion of the Oluwo.

6. Visitors shall not vote, or express any opinion at any Conclave unless when asked to do so by the Oluwo.

7. Native Attire (white buba) for men white blouse buba for women shall be the uniform dress in any Conclave.

SECTION 17: COMMON SEAL

There shall be a Common Seal of the Fraternity, which shall be in the Custody of the Olori Oluwo. The Order approving and authorising the establishment of a new Conclave of the Reformed Ogboni Fraternity shall bear the impression of the Common Seal, under the hands of the Olori Oluwo and the Olori Apena.

The Common Seal shall be made available to the Registered Trustees and the Secretary/Legal Adviser of the Fraternity for use by them, on all documents and deeds to be executed.

SECTION 18: FUNERAL

Whenever there is a funeral of a member of the Reformed Ogboni Fraternity (whose family agrees to the Fraternity's participation in the Funeral Ceremony) the Oluwo and the Apena of the Conclave of the deceased member shall become Chief mourners, to whom report(s) of the conduct of the Ceremony shall be given at the Conclave or any other convenient place. No procession shall take place without the approval of the Alakoso of the Division.

SECTION 19: ADDITION(S), DELETION(S), AMENDMENT(S)

The foregoing Constitution or any part thereof shall be subject to addition(s), delection(s) or any form of amendment(s) and/or revocation(s), as and when the Supreme Council shall deem fit; provided that no such addition(s), deletion(s) or any form of amend-ment(s) shall operate until it shall have been ratified by the General Council.

 

REFORMED OGBONI FRATERNITY

GENERAL BYE-LAWS

1. Anyone seeking admission as a member of the R.O.F must apply in writing. The application shall be duly signed and shall contain the names of three (3) referees of at least two (2) of whom shall preferably be members of the Iledi to which the candidate applies. The sponsoring referees shall be active and Financial members.

2. On the receipt of the application the Apena of the Conclave shall, after Consultation with the Executive, table it at the General Meeting of the Conclave, and if there is no preliminary objection, he shall proceed to ask the Candidate to fill R.O.F. Form 3.

3. On the receipt of R.O.F. Form 3 duly completed, the Apena shall screen applicant in the prescribed R.O.F. Form 4 with copies circulated as prescribed in S. 12 (6) of the Constitution to :-

(i)       The Conclave in the Region, in which the Town or Birth place
           of the applicant is situated.

(ii)      The conclaves in the Region in which the applicant seeks
           admission, and

(iii)     The Central Registry of the Fraternity, at the Reformed
           Ogboni Fraternity Headquarters, 38, Abeokuta Street,
           Ebute-Metta, Lagos.

4. At the same time the Apena shall summon the Character Investigation Committee in accordance with Section 12(4) of the Constitution.

5. If a candidate is rejected, provisions of Section 12(11) of the Constitution shall apply.

6. The Initiation Fee, as prescribed by the Rules from time to time shall be paid before initiation Ceremony by the Candidate in the presence of one of his sponsors and the amount collected should be announced at the General Meeting at which the initiation is to take place. The Customary Drink should accompany the fee. Any Apena or any Officer, or member who received from an initiate more than the prescribed fee or Customary Drink, will be relieved of his Office or dismissed.

7. A candidate who has not been screened shall not be initiated under any circumstances. A breach of this Rule may lead to serious consequences.

8. Not more than 6 (six) Candidates shall be initiated at a time and any Idaji (monthly) meeting.

9. A candidate who has been initiated as Omo-Amo may proceed to the grade of OGBONI at the same Idaji Meeting if the Oluwo and the Apena are both of the opinion that the candidate understands fully the importance of the initiation. Otherwise, a Candidate so initiated must attend three (3) consecutive meetings as Omo-Awo before his/her exaltation.

10. No Apena Should introduce Idolaterous Embellishment to any part of the Ritual that is to say, at any Idaji meeting, or at Initiation(s), Exhaltation(s), Elevation(s), or at Funeral Ceremonies(s).

11. No Ogboni of the Reformed Ogboni Fraternity shall be considered for promotion to the Rank of Egan Arin/Oke without being subjected to a rigorous Test to prove his proficiency for consideration for further promotion.

12.    (a) An Initiate who shall have been exalted to Ogboni must remain in that  grade for a period of at least  (12) twelve months before he is promoted to 'Egan' 'A' and (3) three months later to 'Egan' 'O'.

         (b)         A female Omo-Awo should remain in the rank for not less than (3) three months before she is promoted to Ogboni rank. She shall remain as Ogboni for not less than 12 (twelve) months before she can be honoured with Itagbe which must be on the recommendation of the Iyabiye.

13. After a period (6) six months in the grade of Egan 'O' may he be raised or elevated to the sublime grade of an IWAREFA.

14. Every Candidate presented to the Olori Apena for elevation to  the grade of Iwarefa shall have passed through the grade of  Egan' 'O' and shall have been a member of the R.O.F at least  21 months. Provided that in special cases the Olori Oluwo and or the Olori Apena may dispense with this rule.

15. At the end of every quarter namely March, June, September and December respectively, every Conclave shall forward to the Olori Apena through the Alakoso of the Division, a list of eligible members who are desirous of being elevated to the grade of Iwarefa.

(a) Full name of such members

(b) Date of Initiation of such member

(c) Date of Exaltation to 'Egan' 'O'

 

Elevation to the rank of the noble Order of Iwarefa shall be sparingly recommended and unless it is generally known and confirmed by the Iwarefa and particularly by the Olori Egan that a candidate for elevation evinces critical bias against INEBRIATION and TREACHERY, no recommendation shall be made on his behalf and he should be told of his short-comings for a change.

16. Elevation to the sublime grade of Iwarefa is not automatic, the suitability or otherwise of the candidate shall be testified to and be the personal responsibility of the Apena in the open Conclave in the presence of the Iwarefa. Provided the candidate passes Olori Apena's test.

17. Before the Olori Apena or his Asoju proceeds to any Conclave to carry out the Ceremony of elevation to the sublime grade of Iwarefa, he must have been supplied with a list of Candidates who have been prepared ready for elevation.

NO ONE whose name is not on that list will be elevated. Provided that in case of an omission or for any other cases, the Olori Apena (and not his Asoju) may relax this rule.

It is hardly necessary to say that this discretion will be rarely used.

18. The Olori Apena shall have absolute discretion in the number of Candidates to be elevated in each occasion.

19. The Olori Apena shall prepare a Schedule annually showing the dates the sublime degree of Iwarefa shall be conferred in each Division. Provided that each Division shall be visited once a year and not more than two times in a year.

20. RETURNS

Each Apena shall submit a Return quarterly on the amount due to the Benevolent Fund as well as Registration Fee in respect of each Candidate Initiated into the Fraternity in the 1st working days of the Month of March, June, September and December showing the following in different column:-

(i) Name of the Candidate

(ii) Date of Application

(iii) Date the Application was advertised

(iv) Date Candidate was Initiated

(v) Amount remitted for Benevolent Fund

(vi) Amount remitted as Registration Fee

(vii) Remarks 

21. FUNDS

Any amount paid by member either as fees for promotion, any donation and/or contribution to the Benevolent Fund, or any other fund; and any Customary drink given, should be announced at the Idaji Meeting.

22. It is duty of every Apena to see that the Conclave's money is kept in the Bank. The Oluwo, Apena and Lisa shall jointly operate the account provided that any two of the three officers of whom the Apena must be one shall be authorised (as an emergency measure) to operate the account. A report however, shall be made from time to time to the third.

23 The Account shall be audited annually by auditors of the conclave so appointed.

24. Every Apena shall send a copy of Annual Audited Account to the Alakoso of his DIVISION who shall be responsible for the forwarding of all Auditor's Report in his area to the headquarters.

It shall be the duty of Alakoso to see to it that every Conclave put its money in the Bank, and also that an Audited Account is sent to him annually, and to report to the Supreme Council, any Apena in default. A breach of this rule entails severe penalty of a removal from office of an Apena and where a collusion is established the dissolution of the Executive Body of the Iledi.

25. Pursuant to section 5(D) (1) of the Constitution about Divisions, the following 89 Divisions are created in the Regions.

5. NORTHERN REGION

The present Northern Region is now broken into four Divisions as follows:

5.1 'A' DIVISION

5.1.1 Iledi Markurdi

5.1.2 Iledi J.C. Obande

5.1.3 Iledi Sir Adeyemo Alakija

5.1.4 Iledi Ogunbiyi

5.1.5 Iledi Gboko

5.1.6 Iledi A.P. Anyebe

5.1.7 Iledi Ortukpo

5.2 'B' DIVISION

5.2.1 Iledi Abuja

5.2.2 Iledi Minna

5.2.3 Iledi Kafancha

5.2.4 Iledi Atai Igbira Okenne

5.3 'C' DIVISION

5.3.1 Iledi Jos

5.3.2 Iledi Jos English

5.3.3 Iledi Plateau

5.3.4 Iledi Bukuru

5.3.5 Iledi Sir Adetokunbo Ademola

5.4 'D' DIVISION

5.4.1 Iledi Kaduna

5.4.2 Iledi Adeyemo Alakija

5.4.3 Iledi Kano

5.4.4 Iledi Ogunbiyi Kano

5.4.5 Iledi Zariia

5.4.6 Iledi Funtua

The Supreme Council shall have power to create more Divisions if, when and where the need arises.

26. The Idaji Meeting (General Meeting) shall be held once a month on a day in one week, and a week in the month as fixed by the Executive of each Conclave. The day of the week and the week of the month shall remain fixed for every month for the Idaji Meeting of the Conclave.

However, no Idaji meeting or any minor Conclave meeting may hold on Sunday, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Christmas/Boxing Day, Independence Day, days declared public holidays for the observance of Muslim Festivals and of course, the New Year's Day.

27. Iledi whose Idaji Meeting falls on such days shall have their Idaji meeting shifted either forward or backward by One week only with approval of the Alakoso of the area.

28. If it is established than an Apena/or any officer officiated when he is under the influence of alcohol, he shall be relieved of his office.

29. Every Apena should make ample and prayerful preparation for each Idaji (General Meeting of his Conclave). Nothing shall be done wantonly, but reverently, carefully and diligently.

30. No Apena shall admit a visitor into the conclave except he has proved him/her thoroughly. He must at once notify the Oluwo of the presence of the visitor.

EMIRITUS STATUS

It shall be the practice that if a member is of old age, incapacitated, ill and senile, and hence no longer able to fully discharge his/her obligations under the fraternity, the primary Conclave to which he/she belongs shall recommend through the Divisional Council to the Supreme Council that such person be given emeritus status and vacancy created shall be filled.

Approved by the Supreme Council this 20th day of February 1998 and ratified by the General Council this 21st day of February, 1998

OTUNBA ABIODUN ALFRED OSHOWOLE

Olori Oluwo

OTUNBA DAVID ADEKUNLE OLAIYA ADENIJI

Olori Apena