The Nigeria Union of Journalists, Edo State Council, has strongly denied allegations that it collected ₦100 million from the Edo State Government ahead of the Edo South Senatorial primaries, describing the report as “a criminal lie” fabricated to blackmail and tarnish the image of the union.
In a strongly-worded statement issued on Tuesday, the Edo NUJ leadership accused an online platform identified as “Standard Daily Press” of publishing falsehood and engaging in cyberstalking and defamation.
The union insisted that neither it nor its leadership requested, discussed or received any money from the state government, challenging the publisher to provide evidence to support the allegation.
According to the statement, the individual behind the publication is allegedly not a practising journalist, lacks NUJ membership and does not operate within the ethics of the journalism profession.
“This is blackmail, not journalism,” the union declared, alleging that the platform was being used as a tool for political propaganda and extortion.
The Edo NUJ further warned that it would not remain silent over what it described as a deliberate attempt to damage the integrity of journalists in the State.
The union demanded an immediate retraction of the publication and an unreserved public apology within 48 hours across all platforms where the report was published.
It also called for the disclosure of the identity of the writer and sponsors behind the publication.
The union threatened to initiate both civil and criminal proceedings against the publisher if the demands are not met, including petitions to the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Press Council for investigation and prosecution.
Chairman of Edo NUJ, Festus Alenkhe, and Secretary, Andy Egbon, who jointly signed the statement, urged the public to disregard the allegation, insisting that “real journalists deal in facts, not fiction for hire.”
The union also disclosed that the national secretariat of the NUJ has been briefed on the development.
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