The publisher of ThisDay Newspapers of (one of Nigeria’s major Newspapers), Nduka Obaigbena has refuted allegations that he collected N3 Billion from the Nigeria Government to help tilt media reports in favor of President-Elect, Musa Yar’Adua.

The allegation came at the wake of the controversies surrounding the April 21 Presidential elections.

Pointblanknews.com had exclusively reported that a Nigerian publisher was enmeshed in a N3 Billion scandal.

In an email to Sowore Omoyele, publisher of Saharareporters.com who had culled the reports, Obaigbena said, “I am not a PR, Political Affairs agent or lobbyist and have never sought to influence any Editor or Journalist on behalf of anyone, let alone a political personality, as that is not part of the job description of The Editor-in Chief and Chairman of THISDAY Newspapers-a position of high public trust and responsibility.”

However, sources hinted Pointblanknews.com that one of the recent edition of ThisDay Newspaper which has a special pull-out edition in glossy on Musa Yar’Adua, is part of the projects Obiagbena is handling for the Nigeria Government.

He is also said to have been enlisted by the Nigerian Government to lobby for the United States acceptance of Yar’Adua. Obaigbena is currently in Washington DC from where he would head to New York to meet with senior officials of the United Nations.

Although, Obaigbena denied using his media organization to work for the Nigerian government, sources insisted that over the years, he has used his Newspapers as a tool for propaganda on behalf of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, led Government.

Another case in point according to sources is that during the Presidential polls, ThisDay Newspapers had conducted a poll across Nigeria. In the poll, Borno State, a strong hold of the All Nigeria’s People Party, ANPP under the control of Ali Modu Sheriff was awarded to the PDP candidate of Kasim Imam.

However, when Sheriff, the incumbent Governor protested the poll, Obaigbena had informed him that he refused to return calls or see him several times he asked for a meeting. At this point, the frustrated Governor had to fix a meeting between him where unconfirmed millions of Naira had allegedly exchanged hands. And when the poll came out after the meeting, Sheriff became the leader.

The latest poll irked the Imam’s PDP camp who it is alleged had contract with ThisDay for favorable reports and when the Publisher was confronted, he had returned back to the Newsroom to change Borno State to “Too close to call.”

The editorial style of ThisDay Newspapers is said to be jeopardizing the lives of reporters who work with the organization as a senior political reporter was almost lynched in Bauchi State at the last elections over what was alleged to be the bias and unfavorable reports in the Newspaper.

Bolaji Adebiyi and Okey Ifionu are some of the ThisDay Editors who have been seconded to work for Yar’Adua.