Odili’s Home Invasion: ThisDay Management Disowns Stanley Nkwazema

By Adesina Soyooye

Embarrassed by the association of its brand to Stanley Nkwazema, one of the alleged suspected invaders of the home of a Supreme Court Justice, Mary Peter-Odili, the Management of ThisDay Newspapers has issued a disclaimer.

In the disclaimer, ThisDay disowned Nkwazema and any of his activities, emphasizing that he left the Newspaper about 15 years ago as a Sports Correspondent.

Nkwazema was a surprise face at the parade  of the alleged suspects who invaded Peter-Odili’s home on October 29, flaunting a search warrant granted by Magistrate Emmanuel Iyanna. The Magistrate revoked the order within a few hours, claiming he was misled into granting it.

All Security Agencies within the country, and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister for Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, denied any knowledge of the invasion even though the invaders said they were Security Agents. Their leader who was identified as CSP Lawrence Ajojo was found to be a fake Police Officer. He, however, claimed to be a consultant for AGF Malami.

But parading 14 suspects on Thursday, November 11, Force Spokesman, CP Frank Mba dismissed them as impostors and a criminal syndicate. He said the syndicate is made up of professionals, including Lawyers, Law enforcement agents, Bankers, Journalists, an Islamic prayer warrior and a herbalist.

The presence of Nkwazema who, allegedly, introduced himself as a Contributing Editor to ThisDay shocked many. Was he investigating a story?,many asked.

However, ThisDay, in a statement signed by its Managing Director, Bolaji Adebiyi, put a lie to the claim. It said Nkwazema was neither its staff, nor a Contributing Editor. The statement said he left the employ of the Newspaper 15 years ago, and that he has never been contracted by the Newspaper for any story.  ThisDay, however, admitted that like all of its former staff and some readers, Nkwazema enjoyed the privilege of having his stories and/or analysis published whenever he sent them.

ThisDay: “However, occasionally, he, like hundreds of other readers of the newspaper, sends for publication articles and analysis, and is usually obliged, a privilege THISDAY  gives to some of its ex-staff.  This does not in anyway make him a staff, or Contributing Editor, of THISDAY.

“Since his resignation, THISDAY, had at no time, contracted Mr Nkwazema to investigate any story, and we know nothing of his alleged investigation of a story leading to the raid of the residence of Hon. Justice Odili.

“The Police authorities and the general public should, therefore, note that Mr Nkwazema, whatever may be his involvement in this matter, was not on any reportorial assignment in any shape or form on behalf  of THISDAY.”

Mba disclosed that seven other suspects, including two soldiers, are on the run.

The invasion of Justice Peter-Odili’s home sparked a national outrage.