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MORE facts have emerged on controversy generated by the manner of arrest of the online publisher of Firstnewsonline, Mr. Segun Olatunji by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) on Friday, March 15, 2024.
Mr. Olatunji had stated during an emergency Press Conference organised by the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and International Press Institute (IPI, Nigeria) that his detention by the DIA was in relation to stories he published on the Head of DIA and another story on the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila.
On January 29, 2024, Olatunji wrote a story titled,
“How Gbajabiamila attempted to corner $30bn, 66 Houses Special Investigator traced to Sabiu.”
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After the outburst of Olatunji at the Press Conference of the media unions, another sister online tabloid, Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), interviewed him on his experience in detention and re-published the Gbajabiamila story that might have put Olatunji in trouble.
More details linking the travails of Mr. Olatunji to the Gbajabiamila’s story have now emerged. Further investigation revealed that the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila wrote a letter to all security agencies to fish out the sponsors of defamatory publications against him for prosecution.
A copy of similar letter published by the media on 31st January, 2024, Mr. Gbajabiamila said:
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“over the past six months, unknown individuals or groups have made a sustained effort using social media to spread unfounded allegation of corruption, malfeasance, and abuse of office against my person. This campaign of calumny has gotten progressively more aggressive in tone and content over the last month, thus necessitating this letter”.
A report sighted by our correspondent further revealed that the Defence Intelligence Agency relied on one of its powers,
“to execute any other tasks that may be assigned to it by higher superior authority in defence of the Federal Government or any of its agents,” in investigating Mr. Olatunji.
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The report established the culpability of Mr. Olatunji Segun for cybercrime, including cyberbullying and cyber defamation of character of a government official.
“Olatunji in his written statement and audio confession claimed he was contracted to publish the Gbajabiamila story by one Mr. Rotimi Williams with phone number 08033207090, Mr. Olatunji and Mr. Rotimi Williams were formerly staff at the PUNCH, Olatunji said that Rotimi lives in Abuja and now a media consultant.
“Since December 2023, Mr. Rotimi Williams has been communicating with Mr. Olatunji regarding the allegations against the Chief of Staff. Rotimi claimed he had sources both in the presidency and in the special investigation team led by one Jim Obazee, which is investigating former P.A to President Buhari. On the 24th of January, 2024, Mr. Rotimi allegedly confirmed to Mr. Olatunji to go ahead and publish news about Gbajabiamila. Thereafter, on 29th January, 2024, Olatunji went ahead to publish the story “.
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“Mr. Olatunji further confirmed Mr. Rotimi Williams paid him 170,000 Naira for his effort to publish the news and give stipends to other online publishers, which Olatunji allegedly confirmed he syndicated the story to:
newscontact.com.ng (Yinka), horizontimes.ng.com (Sulaimon Fasasi), platformtimes.com.ng (Daud Olatunji), thedailycrucible.ng.com (Earnest), salienttimesonline.com.ng (Abiodun Taiwo), theencounter.com.ng (Michael Azeez), trustafricanews.com.ng (Ayo Otitoju),”….(1/2)
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