Imo NUJ Disclaims Reported Protest of Journalists Against Kennedy Ibeh

ThankGod Emeh, Owerri.

The leadership of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Imo Council, has disowned a recent protest by a group of persons in the name of Imo Journalists against the Member representing Obowo State Constituency in the State House of Assembly, Barr Kennedy Ibeh alleged to have manhandled Publisher of News Field Newspaper, Mr Finian Chuks over a said ‘injurious’ publication.

The Union which stated this in a swift press release signed by the Council Chairman, Chris Akaraonye and Secretary, Juliet Dim on June 4, 2020 warned the public to beware of who they deal with in the name of journalists.

According to the release, “Imo NUJ has been informed about a reported protest by some persons said to be journalists at the complex of the Imo State House of Assembly on 3rd June, 2020 over the allegation that aides of a serving lawmaker recently manhandled one Finian Chuks, supposedly a journalist cum publisher of a tabloid, at the secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Owerri.”

The Leadership of Imo NUJ said after careful investigation and deliberations at the NUJ State Executive Council (SEC) meeting, comprising chapel Chairmen and Secretaries of the union on 4th of June, 2020 at the Press Centre Port Harcourt Road, Owerri, found out that “The said Finian Chuks is not known to the NUJ in Imo State as there is no member that bears such name in our register”

The Union further stressed “That the Imo executive of NUJ was never informed about the protest and nobody obtained any permission from it to go and stage a protest for the sake of any ‘colleague’.”

“Much as we are not in support of the manhandling of any individual, no matter the level of provocation, NUJ Imo State Council wishes to let the public know that not every person that writes or posts a write up on a news media is a professionally trained journalist”, the union added.

Imo NUJ warns against impersonation of the hallowed union and its members in any guise as offenders will be severely made to face the law.

“The union is an organisation open to only academically trained and qualified journalists, which is a precondition for admitting an intending member”

“Not every owner of a news media (radio/TV or newspaper/magazine) is a journalist and so the public should beware of whoever they deal with as a journalist”

“The NUJ hereby warns that anybody who masquerades as a journalist or a member of Imo NUJ Council to engage in protests without the knowledge of the leadership of the Union does so at his or her own risk. Such a person risks being prosecuted if apprehended”

Imo NUJ promised to squarely look into the matter to settle the dusts so far raised in the reports adding that offending members will be disciplined accordingly.

“Imo NUJ Council will investigate the said protest inorder to know if registered members of the Union were involved. Any member found to be culpable will face the Ethics and Disciplinary Committee for proper sanctions”

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