N12 Million Lands Controversy: Borno correspondent chapel holds emergency congress

…As NUJ Chairman threatens journalist in Maiduguri

By: James Bwala

The Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, (NUJ), Borno State, held an Emergency Congress Meeting on Monday, 7th February 2022, on the controversy surrounding the alleged sale of NUJ Borno Council plots of land in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital.

The chapel following its Congress condemn unequivocally, the alleged sale of the Union property by some officials of the union without due process and flagrant disregard to the NUJ Constitution.

A communique signed by the Chapel Chairman and Secretary Mr Haruna Daura and Mr Timothy Olanrewaju to that effect states that “We call the officials involved, to as a matter of urgency, do everything legally possible to retrieve and return the said property.

“The chapel is appalled that despite the gravity of the act, the leadership of the union has refused to call a properly constituted SEC Meeting or Congress, where the issue can be addressed.

“As far as we, as a chapel are concerned, the meeting held on 25th January 2022, was more like an abridged stakeholders’ meeting, and its convocation did not conform with Article 5, Section F (g & h) of the NUJ Constitution.

“We call on the leadership of the union to convoke Congress Meeting within 7 days from now.

“We advise former leaders of the union and our elders to comport themselves properly against any unbecoming utterances or act(s), concerning the land matter.

“We demand clarity from the National Secretariat of the union, over the controversial approval given for the sale of the land in question.

“We commend the Council Officials that tendered their resignations, for upholding a high level of standard and integrity; especially our own Mr Dauda Iliya.

“We, as concerned and bonafide members of the Union, have resolved to pursue this matter to its logical conclusion, to restore the dignity of the journalism profession.”

Meanwhile, the NUJ Chairman, Comrade Bulama Talba has threatened to deal with a particular journalist said to have been pushing for his resignation following the alledged controversial land sales owned by the NUJ in Maiduguri where the Chairman and few others were criminally involved.

In a text message purportedly sent to the journalist by the state Chairman of the NUJ, the threat reads: “Thank you I heard all that you are saying. You that you don’t have even a recognised medium yet we allowed you to practice what you think is right?

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” Anyway no problem. You have so soon forgotten that you tried to sleep with someone’s wife and a member which is the highest crime anyone can commit in NUJ but we allow you got away with it. Secondly, you are no more an NUJ member because you are sacked from  Tribune yet you remain in Borno State and in the NUJ platform. All these problems we are going address including our own when we call a Congress very soon.  You think you are smart we shall see.

“We have filed all your crimes to the national secretariat and very soon you will hear from us.”

The Chairman forwarded a letter purportedly send to the National Secretary of NUJ which reads: “Sir, We write to draw the attention of the national secretariat to one Mr Kayode Bodurin who was sacked by Tribune Newspaper as their correspondent here in Borno State. Mr Kayode once tried to sleep with someone’s wife who is also our member with Channels TV and the case is still ongoing and will be sent to you for final judgment. Mr Kayode is presently a threat to politicians in Borno State from the reports we are receiving which include blackmail and extortion among others.

“We, therefore, suggest to the national secretariat to suspend Mr Kayode from NUJ pending further investigations on his atrocities.”

It could be recalled that, the leadership of the Borno NUJ were alledged to have told members that out of the 12 million naira land proceeds, they have remitted one million naira to the National body as dues for members.

While the issue is degenerating, there are fillers that the leadership of the union will be coming to Maiduguri to address the matter however, continuing silence on their coming and the situation on ground regarding the controversial land sale is making various chapels call for congress in order to deal with the issue once and for all.

N12 Million Lands Controversy: Borno correspondent chapel holds emergency congress