The Chairman of ThisDay, Nduka Obaigbena is under fire as information allegedly revealed that he paid N10m each to about 12 newspapers in Nigeria from money supposed to be used in purchasing arms to combat Boko Haram.
It has been revealed that some leading Nigerian newspaper outfits received N10 million each from the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki through the chairman of ThisDay, Nduka Obaigbena, online news platform, SaharaReporters has reported.
The listed Newspapers that benefitted from the dubious transaction as reported by SaharaReporters are: ThisDay, Vanguard, Sun, The Nation, Daily Trust, People’s Daily, Leadership, Daily Independent, Nigerian Tribune, Guardian Newspapers, Business Day, and New Telegraph newspaper.
It claimed that Obaigbena acted in his capacity as the chairman Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN) to disburse the funds.
It was gathered that the money was shared as compensation to the newspaper outfits 'for the brutal and unlawful seizure' of the newspapers by the Nigerian military in June 2014 which affected their distribution.
The report also claimed that Dasuki paid N670m to General Hydrocarbons Limited through a Guaranty Trust Bank account, adding that, the company is controlled by Nduka Obaigbena, and payment was for Energy Consulting.
