The General Editor of First News, an online newspaper, Segun Olatunji, has tendered his resignation following the publication of a false story implicating Femi Gbajabiamila, President Bola Tinubu’s chief of staff.
This development comes as the management of the news platform issued an apology to Gbajabiamila for the misleading report.
Olatunji’s article titled “How Gbajabiamila attempted to corner $30bn, 66 houses traced to Sabiu” sparked outrage and led to his arrest and detention by the Defence Intelligence Agency.
The Nigerian Guild of Editors, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria, and International Press Institute condemned his detention, which eventually led to his release.
The publisher of First News, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, revealed that the case had been settled out of court, prompting the newspaper to issue an apology to Gbajabiamila.
In a statement, the management acknowledged the inaccuracies in the story and extended an “unreserved apology” to the Chief of Staff to the President.
“As a responsible media organisation, we wish to state very categorically that we have no malicious intent towards the person of the Chief of Staff to the President or his office,” the management stated.
However, Olatunji immediately resigned as the General Editor, citing the need to safeguard himself and his family. In his resignation letter, he expressed confidence that the truth about the matter would surface eventually. He also urged the management to settle his outstanding salaries.
The false story and subsequent events had caused panic among the staff members of First News, especially after Olatunji’s abduction from his home in Lagos State.
His wife, Abiodun Olatunji, recounted the traumatic experience, stating that armed men abducted her husband without providing any information about his whereabouts.
With Olatunji’s resignation and the newspaper’s apology, the focus now shifts to ensuring accountability and restoring trust in journalistic practices. As investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the false story, stakeholders emphasize the importance of upholding ethical standards in media reporting.