The attention of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Imo Council has been drawn to an infantile and reckless write-up with the above caption in the media purported to have emanated from the Union, claiming that a member of Imo NUJ was Assaulted by Mr. Uche Uzodinma, the younger brother to the governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma.
As a responsible organisation, the Nigeria Union of Journalists like other unions of organised labour, has leadership structure and channel of communication to address any issue.We make bold to state as follows:
1. Imo NUJ is the umbrella body of all qualified and registered journalists in Imo State.
2. That no case has been officially reported to the Union any alleged assault of any member of our Union
3. The NUJ has leadership structure in descending order of authority: from National, Zones, State Councils and Chapels.
4. Imo State Council leadership is led by Comrade Chris Akaraonye as Chairman.
5. No chapel in Imo Council has reported any such case as is being alleged in the fanthom write up even as there was a general congress of the Union that was held on Monday 22nd February 2021.
6. Imo NUJ has no record of any member by name Precious Nwadike as there is no such member in our records even as there was revalidation of membership last year.
7. The said Sunny Ndukwu who signed the lameduck release is not a member of the Imo NUJ and so cannot even be an executive member of the Union. Imo NUJ had been inundated with reports of one Sunny Ndukwu who is serial impersonator who has been fingered in fraudulent extortion from unsuspecting nembers of the public, posing as a member of Imo NUJ. We have always advised that Imo NUJ does not know such a fellow.
8. The leadership of Imo NUJ will commence an investigation into this act of impersonation, especial to know why some news media will allow their platform to be used to perpetrate such illegality
9. Imo NUJ is in no way in support of brigandage or manhandling of any individual as everyone is guaranteed right to human diginity. But it is wrong for any impostor to use the name of a responsible organisation like the NUJ to make a caricature or fight for whatever cause.
10. We call on the public to disregard the said release as it is not from the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Imo State Council.
Signed
Comrade Chris Akaraonye Chairman
Comrade Juliet Dim Secretary
