The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council, has cautioned members of the public, government agencies, and corporate bodies against fraudulent groups exploiting its secretariat to stage press conferences under false pretenses.
The warning was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by the Secretary of Council, Comrade Jide Oyekunle, who decried the activities of faceless coalitions colluding with non-journalists to use the NUJ premises as a platform for blackmail, extortion, and harassment.
According to the union, some of these groups have circulated flyers announcing press conferences at the NUJ Secretariat in Utako, Abuja, targeting individuals and organizations with defamatory motives. In several instances, the purported organizers failed to turn up, exposing the fraudulent nature of the schemes.
“The NUJ FCT Secretariat is not for hire by individuals, coalitions, or organizations seeking to pursue personal, political, or commercial interests through deceitful or coercive means,” Oyekunle stated. He urged stakeholders to verify with the council before recognizing or attending any press conference allegedly billed for the NUJ premises.
He emphasized that only accredited journalists and recognized professional media organizations are authorized to use the secretariat for legitimate purposes. He further disclosed that the council has intensified efforts to track down those behind the illicit acts and would hand offenders over to security agencies for prosecution.
The statement added that security and vetting measures at the NUJ FCT Secretariat have been reinforced to forestall future misuse, as the council remains committed to protecting the integrity of journalism.
