A coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) in Taraba State has criticised reports by SaharaReporters concerning the Taraba State Emergency Management Agency (TSEMA) and its Executive Secretary, Dr. Echuseh Audu, describing the publications as “blackmail journalism.”
The coalition, which spoke in Jalingo on Monday, demanded the retraction of what it described as malicious reports against Taraba SEMA and challenged SaharaReporters to provide evidence supporting its allegations concerning the agency and its executive secretary.
Key Highlights
- Taraba CSOs accuse SaharaReporters of what they describe as “blackmail journalism” over reports on TSEMA.
- The coalition demands evidence to support allegations concerning relief materials and financial transactions.
- CSOs say a related defamation case is before the Jalingo Magistrate Court.
- The coalition disputes claims linking various financial transactions to alleged diversion of relief materials.
- The group urges SaharaReporters to observe the principle of sub judice while the court case is ongoing.
- CSOs call for allegations against TSEMA and its officials to be determined through evidence and due process.
CSOs Demand Evidence From SaharaReporters
The conveners of the coalition, Comrade Job Peter and James Manager, said the controversy was already before a court of competent jurisdiction and urged parties to allow the judicial process to take its course.
The controversy followed an earlier social media publication by an activist alleging that Audu diverted relief materials meant for internally displaced persons (IDPs).
According to the coalition, Audu subsequently submitted herself to investigations by several security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS) and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The group said the activist was later invited for questioning but allegedly declined to appear until the police secured an arrest warrant, leading to his arrest and subsequent arraignment over alleged false allegations and defamation of character.
The CSOs said proceedings had commenced at the Jalingo Magistrate Court, where the accused was granted bail. They added that the Taraba State Ministry of Justice had also joined the prosecution.
According to the coalition, the case was adjourned to October 13.
Coalition Disputes Financial Transaction Claims
The CSOs expressed concern over a recent SaharaReporters publication concerning Audu, arguing that the report linked certain financial transactions to alleged diversion of relief materials without, in their view, establishing the connection with supporting evidence.
“We do not defend corruption, but allegations must be proven, not insinuated,” the coalition said.
The group urged SaharaReporters to observe the principle of sub judice and allow the court to determine the issues before it.
The coalition also questioned claims concerning the Katuka’s Kitchen account, challenging SaharaReporters to produce the bank mandate or signatory records which, according to the group, would establish whether Audu had control of the account.
On the reported N44 million payment to Nizamiye Hospital, the CSOs disputed the alleged connection with Audu’s daughter and challenged SaharaReporters to publish hospital records supporting the claim for public verification.
The coalition also questioned an alleged N12.19 million transfer from the LPRES Draw Down Account to Katuka’s Kitchen.
According to the group, the amount was subsequently returned in full. It therefore called for clarification on the purpose of the transaction and the specific wrongdoing it allegedly represented.
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CSOs Question Aggregation of N49.44 Million
The CSOs further challenged the aggregation of various inflows amounting to N49.44 million, arguing that the total amount, on its own, did not establish that the funds were public money or that they formed part of a single diversion scheme.
The coalition asked SaharaReporters to produce contracts, invoices, authorisations, bank mandates or transaction trails showing that the various transactions were connected to the alleged diversion of relief materials.
The group also questioned why, according to the coalition, the publication had not reported what it described as humanitarian interventions and relief activities carried out by TSEMA under Audu for displaced and vulnerable communities across Taraba State.
CSOs Call for Evidence-Based Reporting
The coalition urged members of the public to treat the disputed reports with caution pending the resolution of the issues through the appropriate legal and investigative processes.
The CSOs called on SaharaReporters to adopt what they described as objective and credible investigative journalism.
They maintained that allegations concerning Audu and Taraba SEMA should be determined through evidence and the ongoing court process rather than what they termed “trial by headline.”
The allegations and counterclaims in the matter remain subject to the ongoing legal proceedings and any evidence presented before the relevant authorities or court. For more updates, follow us on X.
