True to the assertion by Presidential Spokesman, Femi Adesina that the Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE, was going to respond to an allegation that he collected N50m from the Office of the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, the body has come out to state that neither it nor any of its officials received any money from the ex-NSA.
Chairman of the Newspapers’ Proprietors Association of Nigeria, NPAN, Nduka Obaigbena, had alleged that Adesina, who was then the National President of the NGE, collected N50m from the fund meant for the procurement of arms to boost the military’s fight against Boko Haram insurgents. He reportedly disclosed this in a letter to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, dated December 30, 2015.
But reacting in a statement issued on Wednesday, the reigning NGE President, Garba Deen Mohammed, explained that it has become necessary to clarify the circumstance surrounding what he termed the controversy generated by the donation of N50m to the body by former President, Goodluck Jonathan.
He then explained that the NGE had on April 10, 2014, held a fundraising dinner at the Transcorps Hilton Hotel, Abuja, to raise N850m for the construction of a befitting secretariat in Abuja, to be called The Editors Plaza.
According to him, “It was a public event, attended by several dignitaries among them federal cabinet ministers, state governors and captains of industry or their representatives.
“Former President, Goodluck Jonathan was invited to the event at which he was represented by the former Minister of Information and National Orientation Mr. Labaran Maku.
“At the event, Mr. Maku, among other donors, publicly pledged N50million as the federal government’s contribution towards the building project. Indeed, the announcement of this donation has been on the website of the NGE since April 12, 2014; and is still there for those who may wish to verify.”
He continued that shortly after the event, the Federal Government redeemed its pledge through a direct fund transfer into the Zenith Bank account of the NGE, adding that neither Femi Adesina, who was the president of the Guild at the time nor any other official of the body collected cash from the government.
Muhammed explained that the funds collected by the NGE during the fundraising event have so far been invested in two projects, which are: the purchase of a property at No. 24, Mojidi Street, Off Toyin Street, Ikeja-Lagos which has been named “The Editors House,” and the payment of compensation, clearing and fencing of a 5, 600 square meter piece of land at Guzape district in Abuja, which is the site of the proposed Editors Plaza.
Continuing, the NGE President said, “In Lagos, we have since commissioned a team of engineers and architects for the purpose of renovating the property, a twin duplex, preparatory to our moving in hopefully in the first quarter of 2016; while in Abuja, we have already commenced the process of obtaining a building permit from the authorities of the FCT preparatory to the groundbreaking ceremony for the Editors Plaza building later in the year 2016.
“It is regrettable that an earlier statement by the Guild on the anti-corruption war of the government of President Mohammadu Buhari may not be unconnected with recent attempts to drag the Guild into a matter in which it has no case whatsoever to answer.”
Mohammed, while thanking Nigerians, friends of the NGE, its founding fathers and media organisations that called to verify the claim that the body received part of the $2.1m arms money, assured that the NGE would continue to remain a responsible and accountable professional group.
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