Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE) Wednesday responded to allegations of its involvement in sharing the controversial arms purchase scandal fund, saying that it never collected any money from the office of the former national security adviser, Colonel (rtd) Sambo Dasuki.
The professional media body said the N50 million it collected from officials of the past government, was the public donation former president Goodluck Jonathan made to it on the 10th of April, 2015 during the public fund-raising for the building of the Guild’s office; and that the redeemed pledge did not come from the office of the NSA, National President of NGE Garba Deen Mohammed said in a statement Wednesday.
Mohammed said NGE on April 10, 2015, held a fundraising dinner at the Transcorps Hilton Hotel, Abuja, to raise N850m for the construction of a befitting secretariat in Abuja, to be called The Editors Plaza.
“It was a public event, attended by several dignitaries among them Federal cabinet ministers, state governors and captains of industry or their representatives,” said the NGE president.
“Former President Goodluck Jonathan was invited to the event at which he was represented by the former Minister of Information and National Orientation Labaran Maku.
“At the event, Mr. Maku, among other donors, publicly pledged N50 million as the Federal Government’s contribution towards the building project. Indeed, the announcement of this donation has been on the website of the NGE since April 12, 2014; and is still there for those who may wish to verify.”
