NUJ Battles Duke Over Press Centre

For allegedly confiscating and turning the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre on Diamond Hill Calabar, the Cross River State capital, Southsouth Nigeria, into a private residence, the union has resolved to execute a legal action against ex-Governor Donald Duke in a bid to recover their property.

The union wants the former governor to return the centre which they alleged was illegally seized by him using his fiat as governor of the state in 2006.

The state council of the NUJ in a seven point communiqué issued at the end of an emergency congress held at the Ernest Etim Bassey Press Centre, 3rd Avenue, Calabar and jointly signed by the Chairman, Mr. Eniang Ndem and secretary, Mr. Albert Andinam, threatened to “leave no stone unturned in ensuring that the former press centre is retrieved”.

The communiqué read in part: Congress in session reviewed the activities of the union, the state of the nation and resolved as follows: commended the state working committee (AWC) over its efforts in restoring the satellite campus of the International Institute of Journalism (IIJ) in the state to retain and train members for the essence of professionalism.

“The congress mandated the State Working Committee to institute a legal action to recover the Press Centre which was acquired by the then governor, Donald Duke under the guise of public interest only to convert it to his private property.”

Last year when the matter was raised by the Omini Oden-led Executive of the union, Duke had denied acquiring the said property by executive fiat.

—Emmanuel Una/Calabar