Our N50m Not From Arms Deal—NGE

Nigeria Guild of Editors, NGE, has reacted to an allegation raised by Publisher of ThisDay newspaper, Nduka Obaigbena, that professional media body may have been paid the sum of N50 million from the controversial $2.1 billion meant to procure arms to fight insurgency in the north east.

The guild, in its response on Wednesday, pointed out that the said N50 million was donated to it during a fundraising for the construction of its secretariat. NGE stressed that it never got any money from the office of the former National Security Adviser, NSA, Colonel Sambo Dasuki.

According to what the National President of NGE, Garba Deen Mohammed said in a statement yesterday, the N50 million they collected was a public donation made by former President Goodluck Jonathan on the April 10, 2015, at the Transcorps Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

“It was a public event, attended by several dignitaries among them federal cabinet ministers, state governors and captains of industry or their representatives.

“Former President Goodluck Jonathan was invited to the event at which he was represented by the former Minister of Information and National Orientation, Labaran Maku.

“At the event, Maku, among other donors, publicly pledged N50million as the federal government’s contribution towards the building project (Editors Plaza). Indeed the announcement of this donation has been on the website of the NGE since April 12, 2014; and is still there for those who may wish to verify.”