'Seun Ibukun-Oni,Al Abuja
DAILY COURIER - Sola Akingboye, the Editor of RegentAfrica Times and a member of the Credential Committee for the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) FCT Council, has issued a stern warning to journalists Umoru Alexander Ojonugwa and Kehinde Akintola. Akingboye, who also serves as the Acting General Secretary of Corporate Online Editors, has given the two petitioners 24 hours to retract allegations of attempted forgery or face criminal libel charges.
In a press statement, Akingboye condemned the accusations made against him and other members of the Credential Committee, describing the allegations as baseless and malicious. He emphasized that the claims were a deliberate attempt to tarnish his reputation and career as a professional journalist. The allegations, made by Ojonugwa and Akintola, were reportedly part of a petition submitted to the national secretariat of the NUJ over the weekend. In the petition, the two journalists accused Akingboye and two other committee members of conspiring to forge NUJ Identity Cards and associated payment receipts.
The petition, titled “NUJ FCT Elections: Aggrieved NUJ Members Seek Disqualification of Two Credential Committee Members,” was signed by Ojonugwa, from the Federal Ministry of Information Chapel, and Akintola, from the FCT Correspondents Chapel. It raised concerns about a potential plot to falsify documents, an allegation that has since been picked up by various online news outlets. The NUJ has yet to respond to the petition.
In response, Akingboye has demanded a public retraction and an apology within 24 hours. “It is unacceptable that they chose to go to the press without waiting for the outcomes of their petition or any official invitation from the National Secretariat regarding the matter,” Akingboye stated. He added, “He who alleges must prove; failure to substantiate the claims of attempted forgery of the NUJ ID card will not go unchallenged in a court of law.”
Akingboye further questioned the validity of the accusations, pointing out that the NUJ's membership fees and ID cards are processed through verified bank accounts and are signed by the NUJ National President. He also clarified that the allegations related to NUJ membership status were based on a misunderstanding, as he has always been a full professional member of the union, not an associate member.
The Editor also emphasized that as a member of the Credential Committee, his role was to ensure due process and fairness in the upcoming NUJ FCT Council elections. He noted that his participation in the committee was in line with the principles outlined in the NUJ Constitution, and that he had acted with integrity throughout the process. He rejected the notion that the petitioners’ grievances were based on anything other than a failed attempt to manipulate the leadership of the committee for personal gain.
“Their frustration stems from the outcome of the leadership slot in the committee, which did not go according to their expectations,” Akingboye said. “I refused to yield to pressure from certain candidates to manipulate the committee’s leadership for undisclosed purposes.”
Akingboye also referenced recorded audio evidence, which he claims documents the process by which Peter Asemokhai and Elizabeth Atteh were selected as the Chairman and Secretary of the Credential Committee. He suggested that some of the petitioners, particularly those with political motives, were disappointed with the outcome and resorted to media attacks in retaliation.
In his statement, Akingboye made it clear that he had no personal interest in the election, as he was not a candidate for any position. He urged colleagues in the media and those involved in the election process to allow the Credential Committee to perform its duties without interference, emphasizing the importance of preserving the integrity of the journalism profession.
Akingboye’s statement concluded with a firm warning to Ojonugwa and Akintola: “If the unfounded allegation of attempted forgery against me is not retracted within 24 hours, along with a formal apology, I will not hesitate to address this matter through the appropriate channels.”
The case highlights the increasing tensions surrounding the upcoming FCT Council elections and the role of the Credential Committee in ensuring transparency and fairness. It remains to be seen whether the petitioners will comply with Akingboye’s demands or whether the matter will proceed to legal action.
