The NewTelegraph has debunked the claim made by Nduka Obaigbena, publisher of Thisday Newspaper, that it collected N10 million from the Federal Government on its behalf. Funke Egbemode, managing director of NewTelegraph, said that “it is on record that following the decision of NPAN to seek compensation from the Federal Government in the aftermath of the seizure of editions of newspapers by the military, New Telegraph computed its losses, which were passed to the association. However, since then, the company has heard nothing from the association on the matter.
“Following a report that NPAN has begun paying N9 million (not N10 million as contained in the report that has gone viral on the internet), the management of Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited, publishers of New Telegraph, Saturday Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph, has written three letters to NPAN for its share of the compensation; but regrettably, as at this moment, not even a kobo has been received.
“The first letter was written on May 22, 2015 followed by another on July 16, 2015 with a reminder written on November 19, 2015.
“Therefore, it is nothing but sheer falsehood for the NPAN president, who claimed he received the money on behalf of the association, to have included New Telegraph Newspapers as one of the beneficiaries of the funds, which has now emerged, was disbursed by the former NSA.”
Two other national newspapers; the Nigerian Tribune and People’s Daily have denied collecting any kobo from Sambo Dasuki through Mr Obaigbena.
By Dike Onwuamaeze