… as Congress demands immediate handover of Union’s property

A probe committee instituted by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council, has levelled serious allegations of financial misconduct, fraud, and impersonation against the previous administration led by Emmanuel Ogbeche and his successor, Patrick Osadebamwen of the Nigerian Tribune, as well as Ochaka Ugwu of People’s Daily.

The investigative panel claims it uncovered acts of impersonation by former officials who, despite the expiration of their tenure, allegedly continued to pose as serving members of the executive. The panel also accused them of failing to hand over to the newly elected leadership and being unable to account for substantial amounts of money both in naira and dollars belonging to the Union.

One of the most troubling discoveries was that Mr Ogbeche, the former Chairman, reportedly remains a signatory to the NUJ FCT Council’s UBA domiciliary account ( Dollar) alongside his successor, Mr Osadebamwen and Ochaka Ugwu Despite receiving a directive from the NUJ National Secretariat to grant access to the current executive, led by Comrade Grace Ike, the UBA Utako branch has reportedly denied the new leadership access to the Union’s accounts since December 2023.

An account officer was quoted as saying, “I cannot recognise any letter from your National Headquarters because the outgone exco will sue me.”

The former executive is also accused of continued impersonation, allegedly representing themselves as serving members of the NUJ FCT Council at various forums, including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) FCT chapter.

Of particular concern are allegations that Mr Ogbeche and Mr Ugwu continued to present themselves to the NLC as Chairman and Secretary of the NUJ FCT Council, respectively, even after Mr Ogbeche’s resignation in 2023 to assume the role of Special Adviser to the Governor of Cross River State.

The five-member investigative committee, inaugurated at the Union’s congress on 25 January 2025 by the Chairperson, Comrade Grace Ike, was mandated to probe a reported N40 million property rent issue and scrutinise the financial records of the immediate past leadership.

The committee, chaired by Tony Akowe of The Nation, found multiple irregularities in financial documentation and attempts by former officials to maintain control of the Council’s operations, despite the official end of their tenure.

It was also revealed that Mr Ogbeche (Editor, Abuja Enquirer), Mr Osadebamwen with Nigerian Tribune Newspapers, Mr Ochaka Ugwu of People’s Daily , and Gloria Essien of Voice of Nigeria, failed to provide handover notes or financial documents to the new executive. This omission, according to the committee, hindered the auditing of the Union’s accounts from December 2021 to October 2024.

Although formal invitations were sent requesting their appearance to clarify the discrepancies, only Chief Oti Chidiebere Benjamin, CEO of Canopy Global Investment Ltd., reportedly cooperated fully with the panel and submitted supporting documents. Others either declined to appear or gave excuses.

The committee expressed disappointment in Gloria Essien, NUJ’s representative at the NLC, for refusing to attend the hearings, noting that her conduct was inconsistent with the expectations of someone in her position.

According to the findings, Canopy Global Investment Ltd. paid N24.5 million in 2018 as rent for the NUJ FCT Council’s “White House” building. However, only N14 million was reflected in the Union’s audited financial statements, recorded as “rent received in advance”, leaving a N10.5 million shortfall unaccounted for. No receipt was issued for the full amount, and the balance could not be traced.

More disturbingly, the committee discovered that a dollar account reportedly containing $148,000 in October 2021 was misrepresented in the summary as just N6,148,000 raising serious concerns of possible currency misappropriation.

The panel alleged that former executive members unlawfully retained signatory rights to Union accounts and continued to act in official capacities, amounting to impersonation and a breach of the Union’s integrity.

In its recommendations, the committee called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the Criminal Investigation Department of the Nigeria Police Force to investigate the financial dealings of the past leadership.

It further urged the NUJ National Secretariat to retrieve all official documents and financial instruments from the former executive.

Additionally, the committee recommended that Congress direct Messrs Ogbeche, Osadebamwen, and Ugwu to cease all representations as NUJ-FCT officials and that any symbolic recognition, such as their photographs in the Council’s premises, be removed. The report also advised the immediate withdrawal of Ms Essien’s representation at the NLC.

The findings, which detail a pattern of financial opacity and administrative irregularities, have prompted renewed calls for sweeping reforms to restore transparency, accountability, and trust within the NUJ FCT Council.

The probe committee also recommended that the alleged fraud be reported to the country’s anti graft agencies, including the EFCC, DSS, ICPC, and the Nigeria Police fraud unit.

Congress unanimously adopted the committee’s recommendations and resolved that the employers of the affected individuals should be formally notified of the Union’s decisions.

Other members of the probe committee include : Ndubueze Chidoka- Secretary
Akin Orimolade – Member
Princess Ekwi Ejide- member
Imam Bala –Member