PRESS RELEASE
NPAN And N120 Million Compensation:
Our Position
The Management of The Sun Publishing Limited has considered the
public outcry and diverse controversies generated among media houses, the
Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) and the public over the
N120 million paid by the Goodluck Jonathan administration as compensation to
newspaper companies for the unlawful seizure of their newspapers and stoppage
of circulation by armed soldiers in several cities across the country in June
2014.
1.
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.
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.
2.
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.
3.
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.
4.
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.