Scandal: 4 NUJ executives resign in Borno over alleged corruption

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BY ABDULKADIR M. LAWAN. JANUARY 26, 2022 | 07:25 AM


Four state executives of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Borno have tendered a joint resignation letter to their respective chapels over a case of corruption.

They include Babagana Bukar, the vice chairman, Mrs. Hauwa Bata, treasurer, Chiroma Ali Ibrahim, assistant secretary and Dauda Iliya, financial secretary.

They resignation was contained in an internal memo jointly signed by all four of them, a copy of which was obtained by our reporter on Tuesday.

According to the letter, they said they felt compelled to resign following a breach of trust by the leadership of the union, under the chairmanship of Bulama Talba.

They alleged that Talba connived with Ibrahim Mohammed, the union’s secretary and Habib Saleh, the auditor, to sell plots of land owned by the union—the proceeds of which they shared among themselves.

The letter read: ‘We will like to bring into the kind notice of members of Nigeria Union of Journalists Borno State about a scandalous act in which the chairman of our great union, Comrade Bulama Talba connived with the secretary as well as the auditor and sold four plots of NUJ land near Bakasi housing estate, Maiduguri Borno State.’

The state leadership, the letter said, sought permission of the union’s national hierarchy to sell the plots, citing, as a reason, threats of revocation if they were not developed.

'The trio without consulting the remaining state council officials, without convening a State Executive Council, SEC meeting or congress meeting wrote a letter dated 15th October, 2021 to NUJ national secretariat seeking approval to sell 2 plots of the land for the purpose of fencing the entire NUJ land alleging that Borno State government is planning to revoke the property if not developed and was granted approval on the 20th October.’

However, upon inquiry, it was later discovered, the letter further alleged, that all of the four lands were sold.

'Four months after the approval, the chairman, secretary and auditor shrouded the disgraceful act in secrecy until on 22nd January, 2022 when the State Working Committee, SWC had its meeting.

'Surprisingly, the matter was not on the agenda of the meeting, and when we inquire to know the position of the land, the chairman vehemently denied knowledge that some portion of the land was dispose of.

'After long interrogation, the secretary, Mohammed Ibrahim confessed that they sold four (4) instead of the two (2) plots earlier approved by the national secretariat at the cost of N12 million naira (sic) and shamelessly shared N11 million money among the three of them, while N1 million was sent to the national secretariat as check up (sic) dues.

'Sadly, up to this moment, there is no single block placed for fencing of the land, hence disassociating ourselves with this disgraceful act.

‘It is in light of the above, that we hereby tender our resignation letter in accordance with Article 5 (e)(5) of the NUJ constitution and after due consultation with our respective chapels to protect our integrity and that of the union.

‘We will like to appreciate the support and cooperation given to us by the entire members of NUJ Borno Council throughout our stay as officials. Thank you.’

Similarly, the accused have also promised to refund the money on Wednesday after an emergency meeting convened by the chairman over the matter, Vanguard Newspaper has reported.


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