Date Published: 12/09/09

Centre for Media & Development

Suite B12, Block B, Landmark Centre,

Plot 3127 IBB Way, Abuja,

Federal Capital Territory

PRESS RELEASE                                        December 8, 2009

  The Centre for Media and Development, an independent media advocacy group has followed with keen interest, reports suggesting that an official of a Nigerian Bank was found in possession of the sum of $3.1million at the Lagos Airport en route Abuja.

The report as published in a national daily and some Internet news groups speculated that a Governor of one of the Niger Delta States was actually the owner of the said funds. Pointblanknews.com and Sahara Reporters specifically mentioned the name of Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State in the allegation.

While we abhor corrupt practices across all sectors in the country and uphold the current sanitization drive by the Central Bank of Nigeria, we are strongly against the propagation of falsehood by any group especially as it has to do with tarnishing the reputation of public office holders in the country.

Our independent investigations into the matter since the story broke revealed the following:

1. The bank’s branch located within Abuja area had requested for USD from its head office for use by their bureau de change and hajj operations in line with business exigencies.

2. The bank procured the US dollars requested by the branches and detailed one of its staff to deliver the said funds.

3. Upon enquiry by law enforcement officers at the airport as to the ownership of the funds, the said official informed them that the money belonged to the bank and produced all documents to buttress the fact.

4. The bank on its part corroborated the position by provision of official documents including internal documents to the law enforcement agency.

Consequently upon review of the fact of the case, and the documents presents by the bank, the law enforcement agency presented its report on the matter to the following effect.

1. That the bank staff was on a legitimate and official bank assignment

2. That the money in question belongs to the bank which it had procured in the course of its normal business nature to meet request from some of its branches.

3. That no wrong doing was found of the bank/staff

4. That the said money had since been released to the banks

5. That no official of that bank is detained for any such reason.

We believe that in view of the weight of the allegations, the police and other law enforcement agencies as well should be allowed to make comments to substantiate any wrong doing by any individual irrespective of his position in the society.

Finally we urge all media houses, including internet news groups not to lose sight of the fact that with elections around the corner, politically motivated allegations are bound to spring up. We MUST stand up against politically ‘planted’ stories and do our best to always thoroughly investigate reports before going to press in order to promote the ideals of the profession.
 

MAGNUS EZE

Executive Director