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Petro Subsidy Scam: Otedola Sues Ex- Presidential Aide For N1bn

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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Femi Otedola

Business man Femi Otedola has sued Umar Sani, a former media aide to former Vice President Namadi Sambo for saying he benefitted from the oil subsidy payments during the tenure of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

According to Otedola, he could not have benefitted from the very controversial oil subsidy payments because he was one of the whistleblowers against some persons who benefitted from the scam, citing his court case against a former House of Representatives, Farouk Lawan who was jailed  for collecting bribe.

Otedola, in a statement he released on Sunday urged President bola Ahmed Tinubu to release the Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede committee report which exposed the alleged N2 trillion subsidy scam in 2012, as a way of finally putting paid to the issue.

He stressed that he was only importing Diesel at the time and could not have been paid subsidy “under the Petroleum Subsidy Fund scheme.”

Below, Otedola’s statement:

My attention has been drawn to a mischievous and malicious publication written by one Umar Sani, a former Special Adviser (Media) to former Vice President Namadi Sambo, attempting to twist facts and drag my name into disrepute and allegations of complicity in the subsidy fraud. His insinuations are false, baseless, and a shameless attempt to pander to lies and rewrite history. Let me set the record straightfor the overall benefit of the discerning public.

  1. On claiming from the Petroleum Subsidy Fund (PSF):Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited was wholly an importer and trader of diesel with a market share in excess of 90%, never traded in Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and as such could not have claimed for subsidy under the Petroleum Subsidy Fund scheme. Diesel had been long deregulated even before the adoption of the PSF and did not fall under petroleum products to be claimed under the PSF regime. Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) was the only product that was eligible for claim under the Petroleum Subsidy Fund scheme in a bid by the Government to make the product available and affordable to all and sundry. It is therefore shocking that someone like Umar Sani who occupied a position of authority and responsibility could display such ignorance of basic industry facts in public. I view this as either mischief (and taking advantage of the uneducated public) or ablatant display of gross ineptitude. If Diesel did not fall under the subsidy regime, how can Umar Sanithen accuse Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited of impropriety under the subsidy regime.
  2. On Exposing the Subsidy Fraud:I was a member of President Goodluck Jonathan’s Economic Team. I am the one who first alerted the President of the monumental fraud being perpetrated by economic saboteurs in the PSF scheme. When he called the then Minister of Petroleum, she denied it.With my strong determination to stop the economic malaise and bleeding, I called Senator Bukola Saraki and reported the fraud to him. He took it to the floor of the Senate, and from there the House of Representatives began its investigation. These Statesmen are alive and my assertions above can be corroborated if necessary. If I was complicit in subsidy theft, would I be the one to raise the alarm and blow the whistle on myself? That alone should question the motive of Umar Sani for his most recent publication on this matter.
  3. On the Farouk Lawan affair: When it had become public industry knowledge that I was the whistle blower on the subsidy fraud, some of the perpetrators decided to fight back by using the House committee on the probe, headed by Hon Farouk Lawan who tried to indict me without any basis. As they always say its only natural for corruption to fight back. The House Committee on the subsidy probe was now being manipulated by the subsidy fraudsters and thereby turning the probe panel into an extortion racket. When the harassment and blackmail became incessant on my person, I petitioned the authorities and worked with the Department of State Security (DSS) in a sting operation. The money was provided by the DSS, duly marked, and handed over to me under security surveillance. I then gave it to Farouk Lawan in line with the sting operation. That is on record. To twist that carefully documented operation into an indictment against me is laughable and only exposes the ignorance of Mr. Sani. You may be aware that the Hon Lawan was subsequently convicted and sentenced to 5 years imprisonment for bribery. The facts are very clear and public.
  4. On the Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede report:I implore President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to release the full Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede report on subsidy fraud as Nigerians deserve to know the truth. It is on record that the Presidency at the time called on the late EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde, to halt the investigation. Let the report be made public so the real subsidy thieves can be unmasked.
  5. On AMCON: The allegations and insinuations about my involvement with AMCON are again a demonstration of mischief and ineptitude on the part of Umar Sani. I wonder why someone who twist publicly available information to miseducate the populace. I have never hidden the fact that I suffered financial loses from the global economic meltdown of 2008 resulting in a huge debt exposure to the Nigerian Financial Services Industry. The loans were sold to AMCON. I in turn gave up my assets worth hundreds of billions of Naira to settle my obligations under a court-ordered settlement. It is on record that AMCON itself publicly commended my approach and told other debtors to follow my example. Court records are there for anyone seeking the truth to investigate. AMCON officials from that time are also alive today to confirm the truth. I even addressed this matter in my book, “Making it Big” which was recently published and released to the public.
  6. Libel action: Because of these deliberate lies and unfounded allegations, I have instructed my lawyers to file a ₦1 billion libel suit against Umar Sani. People must learn that reputations are not to be toyed with for cheap propaganda and also to serve as a deterrent for other mischief makers in the future. I will go to every extent that this is achieved.

To Mr. Sani and others who peddle these half-baked stories: go and read my book Making It Big, study the facts, and stop disgracing yourselves with ignorance.

I have nothing to hide and I have always acted in the interest of truth and accountability. Those who benefited from subsidy fraud know themselves. I will not sit back and allow falsehood to be written into history.

Jerry Gana: Nigerians Will Support Jonathan’s Return To Presidency

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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Goodluck Jonathan
Dr. Goodluck Jonathan:

Professor Jerry Gana, a former Minister of Information says Nigerians are prepared to support Goodluck Jonathan again for the presidency, more than 11 years after he left power.

The former minister made the remark during a congress held by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Minna, Niger’s state capital recently.

Gana spoke amidst suggestions that the former Nigerian leader, who left office in 2015, after being defeated by the late President Muhammadu Buhari, is planning to contest the 2027 presidential election.

Jonathan has yet to make a categorical remark on the issue, but sources close to him insist that there’s serious pressure on him to run again.

Prof. Gana stressed that Nigerians enjoyed better times under the Jonathan’s administration, adding the political and economic dynamic has since changed because the difference is now clear to the  people of the country.

According to him, Nigerians are now calling on the former president to contest again in 2027 because of the confidence they have in him leadership, asserting that Jonathan will contest the next presidential election under the PDP.

He said the PDP is a people’s -oriented government and Nigerians are agitating for its return to power in two years time, saying the party is ready for Jonathan’s comeback.

Gana: “I can assure you that Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan will be contesting the Presidential election in 2027 as a PDP flagbearer, and we are confident that Nigerians will support his return to the presidency

“The PDP is inherently a grassroots party that has historically championed people-oriented policies. The Nigerian populace remembers our contributions and it’s eager for us to return to governance.

“As the political landscape shifts ahead of the 2027 general elections, the PDP appears to be positioning itself for a significant comeback under Dr Goodluck Jonathan’s leadership.”

Apart from Jonathan, the magazine reports that the PDP, according to close sources  is also piling pressure on the 2023 Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi to fly the party’s flag, against the incumbent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

NULGE Accuses FG Of Paying Osun Council Funds Into Private Accounts

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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Lateef Fagbemi - AGF
Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi

Local government workers in Osun state, under the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, has accused the federal government of paying council funds into private accounts.

The Union made the allegation at a press conference in Osogbo, the state capital on Sunday, addressed by the NULGE President Dr Nathaniel Ogungbangbe.

The allegation also comes amidst the struggle between the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and All Progressives Congress, APC over who is in  control of the 30 councils in the state, which stalled the payment of funds, from the Federation Account to the councils since March this year.

The matter is currently before the Supreme Court.

NULGE however said the federal government has preempted the court by paying the funds into some private accounts, belonging to APC LGA chairmen, which it said have been sacked by bot the federal high court and Court of Appeal.

The union accused the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, the Minister of Finance, and the Accountant General of the Federation of performing illegal act by paying the said funds into the said accounts despite pending court cases on the matter, describing the act as an abuse of power.

 

Dr Ogungbangbe said,  “Today, we have it on good authority that these three principal officers of the Federal Government have released the Osun State Local Government Councils’ allocations for the month of March, 2025 to September 2025 to the illegal bank accounts opened by court-sacked APC chairmen and councilors.

 

“We find this development very scary and alarming. Paying local government allocations into privately opened and illegal bank accounts of politicians is unbelievable, bizarre and unprecedented in the history of public administration in Nigeria.

 

 “These funds were paid to the accounts opened by these APC men with United Bank for Africa despite the fact that due process was not followed in opening the said accounts.

 

“We strongly believe that if these three principal officers of the Federal Government and the entire Federal Government which they represent do not have respect for our constitution, which they have sworn to uphold, they ought to have respect for our judicial authorities, more particularly the Supreme Court of Nigeria, before whom the suit in respect of these funds is currently pending.

 

“It is on record that the Federal High Court of Nigeria on 15thMay, 2025 ordered parties to maintain status quo, an order which has been acknowledged by the Central Bank of Nigeria as hindering them from making payment. It is public knowledge that the Federal High Court is to further sit on this matter on 29/09/2025.

 

The state NULGE President  said the federal government officials acted in the violation of the nation’s law, saying the manner  the issue has been handle so far, is an indication that they have no respect for the rule of law, adding that the courts have already sacked APC Chairmen and councils in the 30 LGAs, stressing that the federal government is inviting chaos in the state.

 

 

According to him, “It is worrisome that these officers and the Federal Authorities, which they represent, do not have respect for the authority of the courts. We wish to remind them that a country that does not have respect for its own judicial authorities is digging its own grave.

 

 “We are not politicians, but our work as career officers who are expected to protect the assets of the councils is directly impacted by this illegal action of the Federal Government. There are existing bank accounts of the 30 local governments in various commercial banks. What informed the opening of the UBA accounts by the APC politicians in the names of the 30 local governments in Osun State, with the active support of the Attorney General of the Federation?

 

“This is supposed to be a democracy and we insist on the Rule of Law. The Attorney-General cannot assume the role of the Supreme Court by setting aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal, which affirmed the sacking of the APC politicians by the Federal High Court. The Attorney-General is not above the law. 

 

“We wish to state unequivocally that the alternative to the rule of law is what we do not want for our state. On our part, we appeal to all the people of  the  state not to give the enemies of the state any room to cause crisis in the state. Their ultimate goal is to cause anarchy and use it to call on Mr President to declare a state of emergency in the state so that they could have access to our resources.”

Meanwhile, the state chapter of the APC has rebuffed the Union, accusing them of misinterpreting what the court said on the matter. The funds were paid into legitimate account, the party said in a statement by Kola Olabisi, the party’s Director of Media and  Information.

“We Insist There Will Be No Resumption Of Oil Exploration In Ogoni Until Demands Are Met” – MOSOP

By
Suleiman Anyalewechi
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Ogoni Land Protest

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Police and sister security agencies have clamped down on youths and other stakeholders protesting against Federal Government’s planned resumption of oil exploration activities in the restive Ogoniland, Rivers state.

The Source reports that oil exploration had been on hold in the oil rich Ogoni land for years now, following  disagreements which arose from oil spill and other environmental degradation issues.

The host communities within the Ogoni oil producing enclave have separately and collectively insisted on the institutionalization of a veritable environment cleaning framework before the commencement of oil exploration halted for nearly two decades.

They are also rooting for an arrangement that will seek to adequately  accommodate the interests of  Indigenous People in future oil exploration in the area.

But the Federal Government, a few days back, announced its plans to immediately resume oil exploration in Ogoni land.

While announcing  the planned resumption of  oil exploration  on the occasion of the conferment of posthumous awards on the  “Ogoni Four” allegedly murdered by some Ogoni activists during late Ken Saro Wiwa’s era of agitations against environmental degradation, President Tinubu expressed the optimism that the development will fast-track the economic recovery process of the country.

The Movement for Survival of Ogoni People MOSOP , expressed serious concern and shock over the violent disruption of the protest by aggrieved people of Ogoni land against Government’s planned resumption of oil exploration.

According to some eyewitness accounts, the protest match involving over 4000 people  drawn from several civil rights movements, who came together to voice their opposition to the planned resumption of oil exploration without first addressing the people’s concerns was disrupted by the police.

The protesters are among other things demanding the resolution of the long standing agitation for the clean-up of Ogoni, environmental justice transparency in the process, and respect for community rights.

The President of MOSOP, Fegalo Nsuke, while condemning the disruption of the peaceful protest, described the development as amounting to a gross violation of the people’s rights.

“The people should be free to express their discontent. That is the essence of a democratic system. To stop a peaceful protest in such a manner is unacceptable and undemocratic”, the MOSOP leader stated.

Nsuke accused the authorities at all levels of sideling the people in all discussions and arrangements for the resumption of oil exploration.

“We want proper dialogue that is transparent, and inclusive. We insist that there will be no resumption of oil exploration in Ogoni land until all basic demands are met. That is our position and that is the position of Ogoni people”, Nsuke noted.

Death Of Patient Over Alleged Negligence: UNTH Vows To Punish Culprits

By
Suleiman Anyalewechi
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University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital - UNTH

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Management of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, UNTH, Enugu ,on Sunday September 28, 2025, said it has  commenced moves to unravel the actual circumstances surrounding the death of a patient who was, allegedly, denied medical attention for over 12 hours.

The Source reports that the social media has been awash in the last 24 hours with reports of a patient, Mrs Charity Unachukwu, who allegedly gave up at the  emergency unit of the hospital on September 21, 2025  after being left  unattended to for over 12 hours  by hordes of medical personnel on duty.

Expectedly, the disclosure has sent serious shockwave and wide indignation across with calls for the punishment  of the concerned staff by  the management of the  tertiary hospital.

A statement by Boniface Uchelue, the spokesperson for the hospital on Sunday, noted that the Chief Medical Director, CMD, has decided to abort his planned foreign trip to ensure that they get to the root of the disturbing situation.

Uchelue informed that the investigation will be thorough, including forensic inquest so as to get at the actual circumstances of the unfortunate incident.

The statement noted that the forensic investigation will consider such variables as the care provided, review key procedures, and identify any failures that may have contributed to the incident.

The Hospital Management while extending its heartfelt condolences to the family, relations and friends of the deceased, vowed not to sweep the matter under the carpet.

“We are committed to reviewing the reports with the aim of uncovering the facts, ensuring accountability ,and driving systemic improvements.

“The investigation will review emergency admission procedures, laboratory, and diagnostic services and inter-departmental coordination; identify any failure — systemic or individual that may have contributed to delays or lapses in care.

“We reassure the public that the investigation will be thorough and conducted in a transparent manner.

“Where lapses are confirmed, corrective and disciplinary measures will follow. Systemic improvements will continue to be prioritized, the Hospital Management added.

APC Flays Atiku Over Comments On Killings In Mandagali, Adamawa State

By
Suleiman Anyalewechi
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Atiku Abubakar
Atiku Abubakar

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The All Progressive Congress APC has slammed former Vice president Atiku Abubakar for attempting to build and reap huge political capital out of national calamities.

This is as the party accused Atiku of being complicit in laying the foundation that has precipitated the current security travails being experienced in parts of the country,  particularly the Northern region.

The APC’s accusations are coming against the backdrop of the former Vice President’s condemnation of the recent terrorist attacks and killings on Wagga Mongoro, Mandagali Local Council of Adamawa state.

Abubakar blamed the attack and worsening insecurity in the country on the APC-led Federal Government’s lackadaisical attitude towards the safety of the people.

Atiku expressed regret that the Federal Government’s carefree disposition  has greatly emboldened terrorists and other criminal elements.

The attack on Governor Umar Fintiri’s home Local Government left in its trail deaths and destruction.

But in a statement on Sunday September 28, 2025, the spokesperson for the Adamawa State Chapter of the APC  Mohammed Abdullahi, described Atiku’s position as smacking of insensitivity and  driven by the quest for political glory.

The APC expressed serious concern over the tendency of  the former Vice President to exploit a moment of national grief for political gains.

“Atiku has once again proven that tragedy, for him, is not a moment of sober reflection, but a stage for cheap politics.

” Instead of standing with the grieving, he rushed to issue a hollow statement riddled with inaccuracies.

“Atiku’s statement misrepresented the facts surrounding the attack, including the location, and the number of casualties. His position is a comedy of errors”  Abdullahi stated.

According to the APC, as a former Vice President, Atiku and his former party, the PDP, through their misgovernance laid the foundation for the debilitating security challenges being faced by the country.

“Atiku, whose tragic failure in leadership contributed to the current insecurity, is now shamelessly using the very monster he helped create to pursue his political ambition” the APC further noted.

According to the APC, Atiku’s eight-year stint as the Vice President never added any tangible value to the fortunes of Adamawa state and its people whom he is now working hard to divide for his selfish political interests.

While expressing its unwavering support and understanding for the efforts of the present Federal Government in tackling the challenges facing the country, the APC, particularly, commended the sacrifices being made by security agencies in combating insecurity in the State as well as other parts of the country.

Kano: Gov. Yusuf Sends Two Commissioner-Nominees To House Of Assembly

By
Ayodele Oni
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Abba-Kabir-Yusuf-Kano-Governor (1)
Governor Abba-Kabir-Yusuf

By Ayodele Oni

Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has forwarded the names of two Commissioner- nominees to the State House of Assembly for screening and confirmation.

The nominees are Abdulkarim Maude, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria-designate, and Dr. Aliyu Isa-Aliyu, an Associate Professor of Allied Mathematics.

The development was announced in a statement on Sunday by the Governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Dawakin-Tofa.

The statement described Maude as a seasoned lawyer with vast experience in office administration, court procedures, and corporate legal practice, while Isa-Aliyu is noted as a respected academic and researcher currently serving as the Statistician-General and Director-General of the Kano State Bureau of Statistics.

According to the statement, Governor Yusuf approved the appointment of Salisu Tahir as the new Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice.

Tahir previously held the position of Director of Public Prosecution in the ministry.

The statement quoted Governor Yusuf as explaining that the new appointments are part of his administration’s drive to bring youthful, competent, and professional individuals into public service, reaffirming his commitment to competence, professionalism, and integrity in managing the affairs of the state.

The nominations come amid recent resignation of Commissioner for Transportation, Alhaji Ibrahim Namadi, following allegations of his involvement in moves to secure bail for a suspected drug offender.

Meanwhile, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) are currently probing a N6.5 billion diversion case linked to the governor’s Director-General of Protocol.

Report revealed that the scandal further deepened after the Commissioner for Community and Rural Development, Abdulkadir Abdulsalam, reportedly admitted to authorising a ₦1.17 billion payment while serving as the Accountant-General, which investigators have described as fraudulent.

The State Government has consistently emphasized transparency and accountability in response to growing corruption allegations.

Anambra Governorship Election: Peter Obi Is Supporting A Non-existent LP Ticket – ADC

By
Suleiman Anyalewechi
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Peter Obi at Moghalu Campaign Flag-off

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Labour Party ticket for the forthcoming Anambra State Gubernatorial polls has been mockingly described as not worth more than a “tissue paper”.

The African Democratic Congress, ADC, Governorship running mate, Dr Ndubuisi Nwobu, at an interactive session with the media, insisted that the LP does not have any legitimate Gubernatorial flag bearer ahead of the November 8 elections in the State.

His damning assessment is, however, coming on the heels of Peter Obi’s declaration of support for Dr George Moghalu, the gubernatorial candidate of the LP.

The Source reports that Obi, the Presidential flag bearer of the LP in the 2023 general elections had, last week, not only  publicly thrown his weight behind  Moghalu’s ambition, but also urged members of the Obidient movement to rally behind him.

Obi’s preference in the Anambra State of battle, however, contrasted sharply with popular thinking that he would be backing Sir John Nwosu the ADC candidate.

Obi has been featuring prominently in the processes throwing up the ADC as a potent and emerging opposition Coalition platform within the political equation of the country ahead of the 2027 polls.

But reacting to the development, Dr Nwobu noted that irrespective of Obi’s support, the LP gubernatorial ticket is standing on a watery ground and a product of illegality.

“From all indications, he Peter Obi, is campaigning for the Labour Party candidate, George Moghalu. But, is that one a candidate? Does he, (Moghalu) in all honesty, believe that he has a ticket? In fact, is that one a ticket?

” From the best of my knowledge, he, Moghalu, emanated from a flawed, tainted and illegal primaries conducted by the Julius Abure-led National Executive Committee of Labour Party LP.

“We are all aware that the Supreme Court had, on April 4, 2025, a day before the LP primaries, sacked Abure as the National Chairman of LP.

“This being the case, you can not stand something on nothing. If you don’t have a leadership, who then conducted the primaries from where you emerged?

“I see his running around, and campaigning as creating further confusion on the political field. He knows that what he is having is not a ticket and that he is not a candidate.”

The ADC gubernatorial running mate further noted that the leadership of the  nascent opposition Coalition at all levels have been supportive of the candidacy of Nwosu.

“The truth is that the party is solidly behind us. We have held out flag-off campaign and we have been going round campaigning. What I can tell you is that it may not be convenient for us to take our stakeholders around for things like Local Government tours” Dr Nwobu noted.

The Source further reports that  the duo of Moghalu and Nwosu were the only two aspirants that purchased the LP Governorship nomination forms pre-Supreme Court verdict on the leadership struggles of the party.

However, following the Apex Court’s ruling a day before the April 5 primaries of the party conducted by the Abure-led NEC, Nwosu withdrew from the LP primaries citing the purported sack of Abure by the Supreme court as a major reason.

His withdrawal inevitably threw up Moghalu ,a former National Auditor of the All Progressive Congress, APC, as the LP Governorship candidate.

Examination Malpractices: BUK Expels 65  Students

By
Ayodele Oni
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Bayero University Kano - BUK

By Ayodele Oni

The Senate of Bayero University Kano (BUK) has expelled 57 students for involvement in examination misconduct.

The Senate also approved the rustication of other eight students and exoneration of two others

The school authorities said the decision for expulsion was taken at its 427th meeting held on September 10, 2025.

The action, according to the university, was in accordance with the General Examination and Academic Regulations (GEAR) governing both undergraduate and postgraduate studies.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Director, Directorate of Examinations, Admissions, and Records (DEAR), Malam Aminu Wada Kurawa.

Those affected were drawn from various faculties and departments of the University.

According to the statement, the Senate further noted that the case of a candidate, Yusuf Muhammad Sani (ENG/18/CIV/00065), was deferred pending the outcome of an investigation by the Senate Business Committee (SBC), which was mandated to investigate further and report back for consideration.

World News Day: NGE Fumes Over Repressive Laws Against Journalism In Nigeria

By
Ayodele Oni
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Eze Anaba - NGE President

By Ayodele Oni

The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has expressed reservations over the cyber crimes laws which impede practice of journalism profession in the country.

The Guild also fumed over the intimidation of journalists with other repressive laws by government at all levels.

It therefore vowed that it would always stand firm to defend the rights of journalists, promote high ethical standards in the noble profession, and resist any move, in whatever means, to harass and intimidate journalists as well as impede journalism.

This was as it demanded of the government to always respect the Freedom of Information Act by freely providing journalists with requested information.

The NGE, which stated these in a statement marking World News Day, noted the challenges journalism as a profession faces in Nigeria, most especially the growing attempt to suppress press freedom and freedom of expression.

It therefore urged the government to align itself with the United Nations Universal Day for Access to Information, just as it called on journalists to shun fake news, misinformation, disinformation, and propaganda, but should uphold the canons of journalism, including accuracy, fairness, objectivity, and facts.

The statement which was signed by Eze Anaba, and Onuohe Ukeh, President and Secretary respectively, specifically tasked the government at all levels and individuals to stop using repressive laws, including the Cybercrime (Prohibition and Prevention, etc) Act, to harass and intimidate journalists.

The NGE said; “We use this opportunity to urge the government at all levels and individuals to stop using repressive laws, to intimidate journalists.

While describing the World News Day, celebrated on September 28, as a global initiative aimed at highlighting the vital role of fact-based journalism in our societies, the NGE reaffirmed its commitment to promoting high standards of editorial leadership and protecting press freedom.

The NGE commended journalists in Nigeria and worldwide, who work tirelessly to bring Nigerians the truth as they recommit to the mission of promoting quality journalism and protecting the rights of journalists to operate freely.

It urged Nigerians to choose truth, facts, and journalism, bearing in mind that fact-based journalism is the foundation of a healthy democracy.

According to the NGE; “Fact-based journalism provides citizens with accurate and reliable information, enabling them to make informed decisions.

“We also urge Nigerians to stand with journalists who face challenges in their pursuit of truth, as any success in gagging the media would put in jeopardy democracy and freedom of expression,” it stated.

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