The Niger Delta Alliance for Economic Survival, NDAES, a Port Harcourt based socio-cultural organisation has urged the media to always carry out proper investigations before publishing stories of a sensitive nature.
The President of the group, Mr. Tubonemi Chibisi stated this while reacting to a news report by Sahara Reporters dated January 12, 2023, alleging that Chief Dr. Samuel Ogbuku who is the current Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was arrested for a murder case in 2014.
According to the group:”Ordinarily, we wouldn’t have responded to the report as we know it is sponsored by unserious and greedy Niger Deltans who have the ‘it must be us or none other’ attitude.
“For clarity purposes, we are constrained to draw the attention of the general public to a suit filed and dismissed by a Court of competent jurisdiction :
Federal High Court of Nigeria in Abuja presided over by Hon. Justice A. R Mohammed, on the 10th of June 2015, who dismissed the said case.
“The Court, in her wisdom presided by Hon. Justice Mohammed said in the certified true copy of the judgment, that ‘the charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/167/13 filed before this Court amounted to an abuse of Court process and the same is accordingly dismissed’.
“Therefore it’s pertinent to urge the media to always carry out proper investigative journalism before publishing articles of this nature and ensure a proper verification is done to avoid character assassination.”
The group further stated that attacks against the person of Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, by any individual or group of persons, would not be tolerated, adding that the general public should discontenance the media publication.
“We call on all well-meaning Stakeholders to join hands with the Board, specifically the Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku to bring development to the people of the Region, as all Niger Deltans have a critical role to play in the improvement of the fortunes of our people.”, the group added.