Publisher of ThisDay Newspapers and President, Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Nduka Obaigbena has made clarifications over the purpose of the N550 million and N120 million payments he received from the office of the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.
Mr. Obaigbena made the clarifications in response to an invitation by the Economic and Financial Commission (EFCC) in connection to the ongoing probe into the disbursement of $2.1 billion arms procurement fund by the office of the former NSA.
The ThisDay publisher, who also owns Arise News, a US-based world news channel, denied ever receiving any suspicious funds from the office of the former NSA, explaining that all funds he received were “payment for compensation to mitigate” terror attacks on the head office of his newspaper in Abuja and another attack on the newspaper’s office in Kaduna in 2012.
He estimated the damage done to his business by the Boko Haram attacks to be worth over N2.5 billion. In a letter, dated December 9, 2015, addressed to the Chairman of the EFCC, Mr Obaigbena explained that he was in the United States and would honour the invitation in person as soon as he returned to the country.
He, however, stated that he thought it necessary to make the clarification prior to his return to Nigeria.
“N100,000,000 +N100,000,000 and N250,000,000 respectively received in August, November and February 2014 as compensation to mitigate the dastardly Boko Haram twin bombing of the Thisday newspapers offices in Abuja and Kaduna on Thursday April 26, 2012, during which four innocent Nigerian lives were lost, our building destroyed and we lost full colour Goss printing towers and three (3) pre-press Computer-To-Plate and auxiliary equipment and other (in)valuable property valued at over N2.5 billion having lost our printing facility to terrorists due to inadequate protection by the Federal Government of Nigeria”, he wrote.
Justifying his request for compensation, Mr Obaigbena said that the federal government spent N3 billion in reconstructing the United Nations office that was bombed by Boko Haram in August 2011 with more earmarked for furnishing.
He further wrote that he received additional N120 million in March 2015 on behalf of the NPAN, of which he is its president and 12 newspapers, who demanded compensation for the “unlawful seizure and stoppage of circulation by armed soldiers in Abuja and several cities”.
Mr. Obaigbena explained that as president of the NPAN, he led media leaders to hold discussions with the Goodluck Jonathan administration to avert a planned class action the newspapers were going to institute against the Armed Forces and Nigerian government.
He further explained that on both occasions, former President Jonathan initially refused to accede to the demands so as not to create a precedence but later approved the payment after he (Nduka) confronted him with the effort the government had undertaken to reconstruct the UN building.
“On both occasions, President Jonathaan said he did not wish to lay precedence and in our case, he specifically said there were many victims of Boko Haram, I had to confront President Jonathan on the Issue when I learnt of the approval for the reconstruction of the Abuja United Nations Building, since we were the second major organisation that would be attacked by Boko Haram after the UN attack. He therefore directed me to meet with the National Security Adviser who processed the three payments in question”. For more scintillating and juicy stories, follow the official Naijapals accounts On Twitter - https://twitter.com/Naijapals and Facebook - www.facebook.com/naijapals
I have been reporting on latest news from Nigeria for almost 10 years now. I report on every possible news area I come across, but always ensure my reports are compiled with dignity and fact to uphold my personal values and duty as a journalist
Posted: at 11-12-2015 09:01 PM (8 years ago) | Addicted Hero
osarobo62 at 11-12-2015 09:12 PM (8 years ago) (m)
Jonathan! Jonathan! Jonathan!......GOD, when did Nigeria offend YOU that YOU sent him to us?
Posted: at 11-12-2015 09:12 PM (8 years ago) | Hero
What? compensation for Terror attack?? Since when does Nigerian Govt. starts paying compensations? Your business was properly insured Mr. Publisher, so therefore, its the insurance company's headaches.. Sorry, but I am NOT buying ur excuse.
Posted: at 11-12-2015 09:16 PM (8 years ago) | Gistmaniac
All dis thieves are now looking for who to blame in their problems. If truly dis govt want transparency then they shld prove all from 1999 till date then I will support them. I don't trust them Dats why am against them.
Posted: at 11-12-2015 09:19 PM (8 years ago) | Addicted Hero
President Goodluck Jonathan was only trying to make peace reign and trying to compensate this man for the damage the northern boko haram boys have done is not bad at all.
Posted: at 11-12-2015 09:38 PM (8 years ago) | Hero
Asterimou at 11-12-2015 10:29 PM (8 years ago) (m)
Quote from: oworen obong on 11-12-2015 09:38 PM
President Goodluck Jonathan was only trying to make peace reign and trying to compensate this man for the damage the northern boko haram boys have done is not bad at all.
Someone just said that His insurance company is supposed to pay his loss. How about the millions displaced by BK? Were they compensated? how much was used to compensate those people? My friend don't take side with evil OK? You shouldn't even conclude yet. No corrupt person will just owe up immediately. Wait until the trail begins and more allegations start pouring in.
Posted: at 11-12-2015 10:29 PM (8 years ago) | Gistmaniac
I hate it with passion when some people keep saying why the current government didn't say the corruption war from IBB, OBJ and other thieves.. if i were buhari i would do the same thing, JONATHAN and his CREW must face the music!! na dem just comot government office !!!!!
Posted: at 11-12-2015 10:42 PM (8 years ago) | Grande Master
How can Jonathan been so coward, to west Nigerian money like this if all this is truth. Power!!! He just easily forgot how he went to school with naked foot. Because his parents could not afford shoe for him. I am disappointed.
Posted: at 11-12-2015 11:55 PM (8 years ago) | Gistmaniac
OMG...! Is this even possible? Government of a country using the countries money to compensate a private business??? And the mumu man is justifying the stealing? Wait ooo? Did this man just say his business and properties are worth over 2.5 billion Naira? Haba, Naija which way? @Winance, I dey respect you gan for this place, but chale, you dey surprise me oooo....! How much your family enjoy for JONA looting sef?
Posted: at 12-12-2015 05:58 AM (8 years ago) | Gistmaniac
sonofman25 at 12-12-2015 06:08 AM (8 years ago) (m)
And our soldiers dat lost there live wen fighting BK how much were there family given, were dey even compensated at All. Someone said dis govt should start probing corruption from 1999. Cus sentiment, TRIBALISM etc dey worry u. Am pretty sure if GEJ become president again in 2019 he will also probe PMB. gej should av probe d administration b4 his own but he choose not to
Posted: at 12-12-2015 06:08 AM (8 years ago) | Upcoming
sonofman25 at 12-12-2015 06:16 AM (8 years ago) (m)
It bother me how we Nigerians will just leave d matter at hand n start saying trash we r talking abt $2.1b dat is been control, manage and misuse by less than 1% of d total population.
Posted: at 12-12-2015 06:16 AM (8 years ago) | Upcoming
His business was not the only one that is damaged by boko haram. Every other business men and women should be compensated too. This has to be taken care by the insurance if it is insured. All this are excuses to justify themselves. Well, it should be check if it is right for FG to pay such compensation under the law. If so, then no issue. But if not, he should be probe also and the money should be recover from him
Posted: at 12-12-2015 06:18 AM (8 years ago) | Gistmaniac
People using country money to settle someone's personal loss. What of those whose families are affected by bokoharam, were they compensated? This country don tire me i swear
Posted: at 12-12-2015 11:36 AM (8 years ago) | Hero
I really like mr jona so much, this stupid man just they share this country money has he like. i dnt knw hw many ways this man has wrong this country. You must pay for all this jona.
Posted: at 12-12-2015 11:47 PM (8 years ago) | Hero
osarobo62
ficull
compensation for Terror attack?? Since when does Nigerian Govt. starts paying compensations?
winace
kp45
Oworen25
bennieben
Asterimou
gogoman
DemmyBlack
Wazubia
okuboye
Haso112
sonofman25
dleg
youngrashy
elchymo
Maxwell29
Novic
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