Sequel to the determination, effort and persuasive presentation of the Caretaker Committee of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Imo state Council the International Institute of Journalism, Abuja has approved the relocation of the Owerri Campus of the institution to the Port Harcourt road secretariat of Imo NUJ.
The Owerri Campus of the institution was hurriedly relocated to its adhoc location at New Owerri by those who had perfected plans to fraudulently sell the Port Harcourt road Secretariat before the Caretaker Committee of Imo NUJ got wind of the alleged criminal act and forestalled it by issuing a caveat emptor.
The Abuja headquarters of IIJ, in a letter signed by the Registrar, Afolabi Olusola dated 18th May 2021, and addressed to “the Chairman, Imo NUJ Caretaker Committee No. 14 Commissioner quarters, opposite Owerri Hotel Plaza, Port Harcourt road, with the caption, “Request to return IIJ Owerri to NUJ Press Centre, Port Harcourt road” reads, “Please refer to your letter dated 21 April, 2021 on the above subject.
I am directed to convey approval for IIJ, Owerri Centre to move immensely your original site at Imo NUJ Press Centre, Port Harcourt Road secretariat, Owerri from the New Owerri venue where it is right now. The council should please bear cost of relocation.
It would be recalled that in a bid to allegedly sell the Port Harcourt road secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Imo State Council, the Chris Akaronye dissident group in connivance with the National President of the union, Chris Isiguzo, two former chairmen of Imo NUJ and their accomplices, moved the International Institute of Journalism, Owerri Campus which is the only one in the entire South East from the Port Harcourt road Secretariat of Imo NUJ where it was located right from inception to somewhere at New Owerri against the wish of journalists in the state who vehemently opposed the relocation.
They also served tenants and other occupants of the secretariat quit notices to enable them accomplish their illicit desire.
It was also gathered that prior to this, they had converted the secretariat to a brothel that yielded enormous revenue which they allegedly embezzled.
Some students of IIJ who commented on the relocation of the institution to the Port Harcourt road secretariat of Imo NUJ, expressed gratitude to the Caretaker Committee for facilitating the relocation, stressing that, “ the place is more central, accessible and conducive. Besides, the place affords us the opportunity to interact freely with our lecturers who had long stopped attending clases having been told that the school risks being moved to Abia state where they have been offered a better accomodation and Isiguzo working tirelessly to have the school in his state,Abia”.
