NUJ FCT Council uncovers Financial Fraud linked to ex-excos, issues public disclaimer

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council, has released the findings of an internal investigation into the financial activities of its immediate past leadership, raising concerns over a lack of transparency, missing documentation, and unexplained expenditures.

The disclosure was made during a World Press Briefing held in Abuja, where council representatives presented the report compiled by the investigative committee. The committee was constituted by the NUJ-FCT Congress and formally inaugurated on 25 January 2025.

The probe panel, chaired by Tony Akowe of The Nation newspaper, was tasked with reviewing the income and expenditure records of the previous executive, led by Emmanuel Ogbeche and Patrick Osadebamwen.

Other members of the committee included Ndubueze Chidoka (Secretary), Akin Orimolade, Princess Ekwi Ajide, and Imam Umar.

The report is expected to guide future reforms and accountability measures within the union.

Lack of Cooperation and Missing Handover Notes

The committee noted that its work was hampered by a lack of cooperation from key figures of the past administration. According to Mr Akowe, no formal handover was done, and only a limited set of documents, including one audited financial report and some rental receipt, was made available.

Efforts to retrieve further documentation from the former chairman, Mr Patrick Osadebamwen, proved unsuccessful. He reportedly claimed to have submitted relevant documents to the NUJ National Secretariat, which has since denied receiving any such records.

Findings Reveal Unaccounted Funds and Expenditures

The probe uncovered several questionable financial entries and unverified expenditures:

• A total of ₦33 million was declared as rental income between 2018 and 2021, but there was no breakdown showing the names of tenants or corresponding rent periods.

• The administration claimed to have received ₦7.2 million in donations yet failed to provide details or evidence of the sources.

• ₦5.28 million was spent on salaries for four to five staff, even though no single staff member earned more than ₦25,000 monthly.

• Over ₦1.7 million was reportedly spent on electricity, ₦285,000 on DStv/GOtv subscriptions, ₦78,000 on “public relations and entertainment”, and ₦1 million on transport and accommodation—all lacking adequate justification.

• A controversial line item showed ₦14 million received as rent “in advance”, with no associated documentation to validate it.

The committee’s report concluded that there was no transparency in the management of the union’s finances during the period under review.

Congress Resolutions and Public Disclaimer

Following the probe report, the NUJ-FCT Congress, in its sitting on 12 April 2025, adopted a series of resolutions aimed at protecting the Union’s integrity and financial stability.

The Council issued a public disclaimer against the following individuals, who have been warned to cease parading themselves as representatives of the NUJ-FCT Council:

• Mr Emmanuel Ogbeche, currently Special Adviser to the Governor of Cross River State.

• Mr Patrick Osadebamwen, immediate past Chairman and journalist with the Nigerian Tribune.

• Mr Ochiaka Ugwu, former Secretary of the Council and staff of People’s Daily.

In addition, Mrs Gloria Essien has been cautioned against representing the Council at the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), as she no longer holds any official position within the NUJ-FCT.

The union also called on UBA Bank to freeze the NUJ-FCT Council’s accounts still under the control of former signatories (Account Nos: 1022765326, 1014057659, and Dollar Account: 3002941904), pending a full transition to the current leadership.

Furthermore, the NUJ-FCT will:

• Publish a formal disclaimer in national dailies.

• Notify the employers of the former officials about the resolutions.

• Alert government institutions, corporate bodies, and the general public not to engage with the aforementioned individuals on behalf of the NUJ-FCT Council.

Commitment to Transparency

The Council’s Secretary, Mr Jide Oyekunle, who anchored the press briefing, reiterated that the probe’s findings and the resolutions reflect the collective will of the NUJ-FCT Congress and the determination to protect members’ interests.