The management of THISDAY NEWSPAPERS has said that one Mr. Stanley Nkwazema, who is amongst the suspects that were apprehended by the Nigeria Police over the invasion of the home of Justice Mary Odili on October 29. is not a staff nor a Contributing Editor of the organisation and that they know nothing of his alleged investigation of a story leading to the raid of the residence of Justice Odili.
According to a disclaimer notice signed by the Managing Editor of THISDAY Newspapers, Mr. Bolaji Adebiyi, he said Mr. Nkwazema is neither a staff of THISDAY nor a Contributing Editor but a Sports Correspondent and resigned more than 15 years ago.”
The notice dated November 11, read, in part, “The attention of the management of THISDAY Newspapers has been drawn to the news making the rounds that Mr. Stanley Nkwazema, one of those suspected to have invaded the home of Justice Mary Odili, claimed to be a staff and Contributing Editor of THISDAY.
The newspaper management said: ‘Contrary to his claim, Mr. Nkwazema is neither a Staff of THISDAY nor a Contributing Editor.
“However, occasionally, he, like hundreds of other readers of the newspaper, sends for publication articles and analyses and is usually obliged, a privilege THISDAY gives to some of its ex-staff. That does not in any way make him a staff and contributing Editor of THISDAY.
The Managing Editor went on to say that Stanley Nkwazem who was Sports Correspondent had resigned from THISDAY over 15 years ago and that since then they had never contacted him to do any investigation for him.
“Since his resignation, THISDAY had at no time contracted Mr. Nkwazema to investigate any story, and we know nothing of his alleged investigation of a story leading to the raid of the residence of Hon. Justice Odili.
“The police authorities and the general public should, therefore, note that Mr. Nkwazema, whatever may be his involvement in this matter, was not acting on behalf of THISDAY in any shape or form.”
Parading the suspects at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Headquarters, on Thursday the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Mr Frank Mba, said seven of the suspects, including two soldiers, were still at large.
Mba also said that the crime syndicate includes Lawyers, Military personnel, accountants, Journalists, and others.
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He said the journalist among the syndicate, Stanley Mkwazama said he was following a story lead on that day and was not part of the whole criminal intentions of some others.
