– As High Court Sits Over Matter Today
-4 Persons Sent To Prison Without Trial Yet To Regain Freedom
As news of the criminal plot by some disgruntled elements to sell the expansive secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Imo State Council trends, Olu Owerri, the apex socio-cultural organization of the nine Local Government Areas in Owerri zone, Orluzurumee Youth Assembly, the apex socio-cultural organization of the 12 Local Government Areas in Orlu zone and the Coalition of Non Government Organizations (NGOs) in Imo State have in their separate reactions condemned the fraudulent plot which they described as evil, retrogressive and disgusting.
Olu Owerri, in a release signed by the President General Chief Martin Opara, cautioned those involved in the evil plan to desist or face the consequences of their ungodly action which according to him, will manifest in manifold proportions.
The group noted that, “posterity will not fail to judge anyone who by omission or commission partakes in the broad daylight criminality fairly”.
Continuing, he said, “It is unfortunate that some individuals can brazenly jump on a public institution as sacred as the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ with a devilish intention of appropriating and selling the government allocated and well built Secretariat without reprimand from people of goodwill”.
Olu Owerri condemns this display of impunity and calls on the Imo State Governor, Sen. Hope Uzodinma to rise up to the occasion to protect government and public institutions and their properties.
“We commend all Imo NUJ stakeholders who have resisted this move by all legal means possible and urge all civil society groups, human rights activists and well meaning Nigerians to wade in to prevent this criminal plot to sell a Secretariat that should be the breeding house for future journalists”.
Orluzurumee Youth Assembly, in the same vein condemned the fraudulent plot in very strong terms, while also pledging their support and solidarity for the members of Imo NUJ, led by Comrade Precious.
The President, Comrade Thaddeus Emejuru said, “the actions of those involved in fraudulent plot to sell the Imo NUJ secretariat which is an ill wind that blows no one good, is synonymous with dancing naked in the marketplace. They will regret it if they don’t desist forthwith”
Also reacting to the development, Secretary of the Coalition of Non Governmental Organizations NGOs in Imo State, Comrade Gideon Nnadi, said, “as NGOs, we are partners in progress with journalists who are referred to as members of the fourth estate of the realm. I am surprised that this issue which initially sounded like a joke has regrettably become reality. Because recent developments have shown that there was indeed such a fraudulent and devilish plot by some self- serving individuals.
It is unfortunate that some journalists who, by their training and constitutionally assigned duty should be the watchdogs of the society chose to condescend to the abysmal level of engaging in such reprehensible act for selfish reasons”
Nnadi, further stated that he is aware that this was how the Secretariat of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations NIPR, in Imo State was sold by some members of the union during Rochas Okorocha’s tenure, pointing out that the same scenario is regrettably playing out again. He commended members of the Comrade Precious Nwadike-led Imo NUJ for resisting the fraudulent move.
Meanwhile, the Magistrate who sent four persons to prison without arraignment and trial has again, refused to grant them bail. She insisted that the other party should be put on notice.She subsequently adjourned the matter to Tuesday next week.
Meanwhile,the NUJ case seeking to set aside what they described as judgement obtained by fraud will come up today at the High Court.
