by Paul Osas
The Niger State command of the Department of State Services (DSS) on Monday paraded a staff of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) it had arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja while on his way to Minna to pick up N50 million from the state government to stop him from broadcasting a story on alleged fraudulent activities within the state government.
The suspect, Sampson Oghenedoro, a 28-year old was until his arrest a staff of the NTA Asaba, Delta state, where he worked as a producer/cameraman, and according to the DSS, he operates under the name Fejiro Oliver. Oghenedero also works with Elombah
Communications, an online news medium.
See: Journalist Fejiro Oliver Declared Missing! Niger State Govt Fingered
Oghenedoro and two others, Stanley Gene and Francis Arinze both now at large, co-founded the Secret Reporters Group (SRG) with the alleged sole objective of blackmailing government officials and heads of organisations for pecuniary benefits.
The DSS in Minna, speaking through the state director, Dr. Larry Obiagwu said. in July and August, the suspect alerted top officials of the Niger state government on a threat to expose fraudulent activities taking place within the government unless they are paid N50 million to drop the story.
Obiagwu however said that Oghenedoro and his accomplices did not carry out any investigation on the Niger state government and that as a member of staff of the NTA in Delta state, Niger State is not part of his jurisdiction.
Speaking to journalists, the suspect said he had nothing to do with the alleged demand of N50 million from the state government, saying he was only on his way to Minna to balance his story.