Dasuki Saga: Sun Newspaper Remits N9 Million To FG

The Sun Newspaper has returned its allotted share of the 9 million Naira compensation received from the Newspaper Proprietors Association Of Nigeria (NPAN) to the Federal Government.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Managing director/editor-in-chief of the Newspaper,Eric Osagie.


According to the statement, the Newspaper made the decision to return the money following the controversy the issue has generated.

The National Security Agency (NSA), in June 2014, reportedly paid N120 Million to the Newspaper Proprietors Agency Of Nigeria (NPAN) as compensation to newspaper companies for the illegal seizure of publications and unlawful stoppage of circulation by armed soldiers in various cities across the country.

"After the unlawful action of the military, to which The Sun lost millions of naira, we had signified the intention to commence liti­gation against the Federal Government along with other affected newspaper companies. 2. However, at the level of the NPAN, which The Sun is a member, a de­cision was collectively taken to accept the Presi­dency’s offer of peace­ful settlement in place of litigation in the interest of peace and national se­curity.

“We were later in­formed of the payment of N120 million compensa­tion out of which the sum of N9 million was paid to The Sun Management by the NPAN.

“At the time the com­pensation was paid, we had no inkling whatso­ever under which expen­diture sub-head in the Presidency the fund was sourced and that it was al­legedly part of the funds meant for the purchase of arms.

“As a very responsible newspaper organization, which places premium on ethics, individual and cor­porate integrity, we are certainly embarrassed by the turn of events and the unfortunate insinuation of involvement in the illegal sharing of the nation’s commonwealth and the feasting on the blood of soldiers fighting the war against insurgency.

“We believe strongly in our corporate integrity and principles of fairness and social justice, which have driven our business considerations over the years.

“In the light of the foregoing, we have re­turned the cheque of N9 million to the NPAN for onward transmission to the source through which it came.

“We have seen that the good intention not to seek redress in court has seem­ingly backfired.

“We have also given notice to our lawyers to immediately commence the process in court to redress the huge loss suf­fered through the actions of the military.

“We assure our teem­ing readers of our com­mitment to serving them faithfully and conscien­tiously by upholding the time-tested principles of fair business ethics, eq­uity and social justice. The statement read.