We Didn’t Collect Any Cash From Dasuki, Editors Claim

Source: thewillnigeria.com

BEVERLY HILLS, January 07, (THEWILL) – The Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE, has denied allegations that it received N50 million cash from the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.

The National President of the body, Garba Deen Mohammed, made this known in a statement on Wednesday following the controversy generated by the N50 million donated to the body by former President, Goodluck Jonathan.

Nduka Obaigbena, Editor-in-Chief and Chairman, THISDAY newspapers, had in a letter, told the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that Dasuki had informed him that the guild was paid cash in donations by the federal government.

According to Garba Deen, the donation was openly announced on April 10, 2015, when it held a fundraising dinner at the Transcorps Hilton Hotel, Abuja, to raise N850m for the construction of a befitting secretariat in Abuja, to be called The Editors Plaza.

“The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) is constrained to issue a statement to clarify the circumstances surrounding the N50m donation made to the NGE by the government of former President Goodluck Jonathan,” they said

“On 10 April, 2014, the NGE held a fundraising dinner at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, to raise N850m (eight hundred and fifty million Naira) for the purpose of building a befitting secretariat in Abuja which shall be called The Editors Plaza.

“Former President Goodluck Jonathan was invited to the event at which he was represented by the former Minister of Information and National Orientation Mr. Labaran Maku.

“At the event, Mr Maku, among other donors, publicly pledged N50million as the federal government's contribution towards the building project.

“Shortly after the event, the federal government redeemed its pledge through a transfer direct into the Zenith bank account of the NGE. For the avoidance of doubt, neither Mr. Femi Adesina, who was the President of the Guild at the time, nor any other official of the Guild collected cash from the government as has been erroneously alleged.

“It is regrettable that an earlier statement by the Guild on the anti-corruption war of the government of President Mohammadu Buhari may not be unconnected with recent attempts to drag the Guild into matter in which it has no case to answer whatsoever”.