By Godwin Orozo Abuja-
Abuja — April 17, 2025
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council, has exposed widespread financial irregularities under its previous administration and issued a stern public disclaimer against four former officials, warning them to desist from parading themselves as representatives of the union.
Speaking during a joint World Press Briefing in Abuja, Chairman of the Investigative Committee, Mr. Tony Akowe of The Nation newspaper, revealed that the panel, inaugurated on January 25, 2025, was hindered by lack of cooperation and access to key documents.
“There was no formal handover from the past leadership, and we were only given a limited number of documents — one audited report and a few rental receipts,” Akowe stated.
The committee, mandated by the NUJ-FCT Congress to investigate the income and expenditure of the immediate past executive led by Mr. Emmanuel Ogbeche and Mr. Patrick Osadebamwen, uncovered multiple instances of undocumented and unexplained transactions.
“Efforts to retrieve further records from Mr. Osadebamwen were futile. He claimed to have submitted them to the NUJ National Secretariat, but the Secretariat has denied receiving any such files,” Akowe added.
Shocking Financial Discrepancies
Among the findings detailed by the committee were:
- ₦33 million declared as rental income from 2018–2021, with no breakdown of tenants or rent periods.
- ₦7.2 million listed as donations without sources or receipts.
- ₦5.28 million spent on staff salaries despite no staff earning more than ₦25,000 per month.
- ₦1.7 million paid for electricity, ₦285,000 on DSTV/GOtv subscriptions, ₦78,000 on “public relations and entertainment,” and ₦1 million on transport and accommodation — all lacking proper documentation.
- ₦14 million recorded as advance rent without supporting evidence.
“There was a complete absence of financial transparency. Expenditures were made without justification or proper accountability,” Akowe concluded.
Congress Adopts Resolutions, Freezes Accounts
Speaking on behalf of the Council, NUJ-FCT Secretary Comrade Jide Oyekunle disclosed that during its sitting on April 12, 2025, the Congress adopted critical resolutions, including a public disclaimer against former executives.
Those named in the disclaimer include:
- Mr. Emmanuel Ogbeche, now 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 Council Secretary and staff of People’s Daily.
- Mrs. Gloria Essien, cautioned against representing the Council at the Nigeria Labour Congress.
“These individuals have been warned to desist from representing the NUJ-FCT Council in any capacity. They no longer speak for us,” Oyekunle declared.
The Congress also resolved to notify relevant banks to freeze the union’s accounts (UBA Account Nos.: 1022765326, 1014057659, and Dollar Account: 3002941904), pending a complete transition to the current leadership.
“We’re also informing government agencies, corporate partners, and media stakeholders to avoid dealings with these individuals on behalf of NUJ-FCT,” Oyekunle emphasized.
Upholding Journalistic Integrity
Oyekunle stressed that the steps taken reflect the will of NUJ-FCT members to uphold accountability and protect the integrity of the union.
“This is a Congress-driven process. We owe it to our members and the profession to ensure transparency, and we remain committed to restoring the union’s credibility.”
The Council says it will forward the report to relevant authorities for further action as it continues to implement reforms aimed at restoring accountability and professionalism.
