By Gift Chapi-Odekina, Abuja

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council, has reported some of its former executive members to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), citing unresolved issues related to the handover of union property and financial documentation.

Comrade Jide Oyekunle, Secretary of the Council, made this known during a press conference in Abuja while presenting the findings of a probe panel established to review the administration of the council’s immediate past leadership.

According to him, those named in the report include: Comrade Emmanuel Ogbeche, a former council chairman and current Special Adviser to the Cross River State Governor, as well as Editor of the Abuja Inquirer newspaper.

Patrick Osadebamwen, the immediate past chairman and staff member of the Nigerian Tribune.

Ochiaka Ugwu, a former council secretary and staff member of Peoples Daily newspaper.

Oyekunle said the Council’s Congress, which convened last Saturday, also resolved that the individuals should discontinue any engagement or representation in the name of the current NUJ FCT Council and relinquish all control over the union’s United Bank for Africa (UBA) accounts. The accounts referenced include two naira accounts (1022765326 and 1014057659) and one dollar account (3002941904).

Further resolutions by the Congress include: A clarification that Mrs. Gloria Essien is no longer the FCT Council’s representative at the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), FCT chapter.

An advisory to government agencies, corporate organizations, individuals, and the diplomatic community to transact only with the duly recognized leadership of the NUJ FCT Council.

A request that financial institutions refrain from further dealings on behalf of the Council with any individuals not officially recognized as current executives.

Plans to issue a public notice aimed at protecting the identity and integrity of the council.

A proposal to formally notify the employers of the affected individuals about the outcome of the panel’s review and the Congress resolutions.

Comrade Tony Akowe, Chairman of the investigative panel, said the committee’s mandate was to assess the financial activities of the previous administration. He noted that while the committee received an audited financial report covering the first tenure of Emmanuel Ogbeche’s leadership and some documentation from a tenant at the council’s White House property, several requests for additional financial records and handover notes went unanswered.

Akowe explained that a follow-up with the NUJ National Secretariat yielded no additional information, as the secretariat stated it had not received any official handover documents from the outgoing executive.

The committee also observed that the financial report reviewed lacked certain clarifying details. For instance:

A total of N33 million was reported as rental income between 2018 and 2021, but no breakdown of payments or tenants was included.

The report listed N220,000 as check-off dues and N392,000 as chapel remittances, without clear sourcing.

N7.2 million was noted as donations, though the origins of the contributions were not specified.

The NUJ FCT Council reaffirmed its commitment to accountability and transparency, stating that steps will continue to be taken to ensure due process and restore confidence in its operations.