By Desmond Ukandu (Group Politics Editor)
The Ebonyi State Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Barrister Uchenna Orji, has denied news reports making rounds that he had threatened to arrest Mr Nelson Nwaefuru, said to be a practicing Journalist and Publisher of Fastlink Newspaper based in Ebonyi State over alleged extortion.
The Commissioner described the report as "false, malicious, irresponsible and desperately orchestrated to satisfy the unprofessional motives" of those behind the report.
In a statement on Wednesday by the Special Assistant on Media to the Commissioner, Nduka Nnaemeka Solomon, he said: "the attention of the Honouable Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Ebonyi State has been drawn to a publication dated 20th September, 2020, and credited to one Nelson Nwefuru and Ejike Ike, who parade themselves as “Ebonyi State Indigenous Media Practitioners” and who by all indications are operating inimically with the principles of the body of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ebonyi State and the State Correspondents Chapel.
"The Honourable Commissioner discountenanced the publication by this group as false, malicious, irresponsible and desperately orchestrated to satisfy their unprofessional motives. It will be recalled that this same group of people have been severally involved in unprofessional behaviours including act of extortion and blackmail on unsuspecting members of the public, of which the body of NUJ is investigating.
"While the Honourable Commissioner is not daunted by the dummy they have sold to the public, he is only concerned about the way and manner the so called “ Ebonyi State Indigenous Media Practitioners ” are sacrificing the image of the noble profession of Journalism on the altar of personal aggrandizement.
"The Commissioner appreciates the warm disposition and unwavering commitment of the State NUJ to the principles of development journalism, and urges the State NUJ Screening, Ethics and Disciplinary Committee to widen their watch on all those that engage on suspicious conducts in the guise of journalists" , the statement reads. NNL
