May 9, (THEWILL) – The management of First News, an online newspaper, has apologised to the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, over a news report published on its platform on January 29, 2024.
The report, titled “How Gbajabiamila Attempted to Corner $30bn, 66 Houses Traced to Sabiu”, was authored by the General Editor, Segun Olatunji.
First News had in the controversial report, alleged that Gbajabiamila was re-looting funds and landed properties allegedly recovered from Tunde Sabiu, an aide and relative to former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Expressing deep regret for oversight and unreserved apology to Gbajabiamila, the management in a statement on Wednesday, acknowledged that the report contained falsehoods and fabricated information “handed out to us as facts by a misleading source.”
“As a responsible media organisation, we wish to state very categorically that we have no malicious intent towards the person of the Chief of Staff to the President or his office. Hence, our decision to tender an unreserved apology and the need to publish a retraction of the said story.”
THEWILL, however, gathered that First News’ apology came after Gbajabiamila through his lawyer, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), wrote the outlet demanding an apology over the defamatory publication Dated May 3, 2024, Pinheiro demanded First News apologise within seven days of the receipt of the letter. The law firm published the letter of demand for retraction on May 7, publication of ThisDay newspaper.
Earlier on April 30, some blogs had claimed Olatunji retracted his story and issued an apology to Gbajabiamila. However, he denied it, saying he was standing by his report.
Meanwhile, Segun Olatunji, the author of the controversial report, who doubled as General Editor of First News, has resigned.
In his resignation letter dated May 8, 2024, and addressed to the Publisher/ Managing Director, First Media Network Limited, Olatunji, said: “In view of the latest development regarding the Gbajabiamila story and the stance of the company’s management, I hereby tender my resignation as the General Editor of First News.
“It has become imperative for me to resign my appointment for the safety of my person and my family. However, I want to state that in no distant time, the truth will come out and then it’ll be my word against theirs.
“I hope the management of First Media Network Limited, publishers of First News newspaper, will be magnanimous enough to fully settle the one-year outstanding salaries I am being owed, in no time.
“I thank the company’s management for giving me the opportunity to contribute my quota to its operations in the past four years.”
THEWILL had reported that Olatunji was arrested and assaulted for days by personnel of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), over the report.
The former Kaduna State correspondent of Punch and Current was picked up in his Lagos home in Iyana Odo, Abule Egba area of Lagos on March 15, 2024. He was released to the General Secretary of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mr Iyobosa Uwugiaren and the Deputy Editor (Nation’s Capital) of THE NATION Newspapers, Mr Yomi Odunuga under a bridge in Asokoro, after two weeks in the custody of the DIA.
Recounting his ordeal at the hands of the DIA personnel, Olatunji said he was first put in a cell where his hands and legs were cuffed.
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