‘We stand by our report; prove us wrong by declaring your asset – The Union
Newspaper
Despite threat by the Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir
El- Rufai, to sue the Union Newspaper following a publication in the paper which
revealed that the governor in his asset declaration form submitted to the Code
of Conduct Bureau claimed he owns N90billion assets and 40 houses in Abuja, the
newspaper has challenged the governor to go ahead with the legal threat.
Mr. Casmir Igbokwe, the Editor-in- Chief, Union Newspaper,
Lagos, a seasoned journalist with proven track record, said that the paper
stand by the report of its Abuja Bureau Chief. He however urged the governor to
go ahead with the threat on the condition that he is willing to declare his
assets public.
‘’ Union Newspaper stand by our story for now until when
proven wrong. The story was based on information from our reporter in Abuja. We
have no reason to doubt the credibility of our reporter. He got the story from
reliable sources after he had contacted the media team of the governor and the
Code of Conduct Bureau, but they chose not to comment.’’.
‘’The governor has every right to sue us; it is within the
purview of his fundamental human right, to act otherwise, if he feels the
report is not valid. If he says what we published is false let him release what
he declared.
‘’We have no malice towards him, but he should be prepared
to give what he is worth by making it public as recommended by the constitution.
‘’ he explained.
Casmir, however noted that the Union Newspaper is against
secret declaration of assets. According to him, the governor’s refusal to make
his assets public for us to see, is not good for the country’s democracy.
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