…Describes His Rant As Last Kick of A Dying Horse*
Foremost investigative media group in Nigeria, the Nigerian Guild of Investigative Journalists, NGIJ, has renounced its former Acting President, Olawale Abideen, Publisher, Security Monitor, an online news platform.
Abideen was unanimously impeached and disgraced by the Congress of the NGIJ, with his name removed from the Board of Directors of the Guild over his criminal acts including embezzlement of guild funds while in acting capacity.
In a statement by the Public Relations Officer of the Guild, Femi Oyewale, the Guild described the recent rant of the disgraced Ex-Acting President as the last kick of a dying horse, and urged members of the public to disregard his malicious outbursts published using phantom names and organisation on his platform.
It is on record that his criminal acts was reported to the Office of the Inspector General of Police, IGP and the Director General of the Department of State Security, DSS, in a letter dated 3rd August, 2020, when he illegally made use of members of the disbanded Federal Special Anti Robbery Squad, FSARS, through the influence of his wife, Taiwo Abideen, a Police Officer in Lagos to threaten, intimidate and hunt down the National Secretary of the Guild, AbdulRahman Aliagan, in an attempt to forcefully hijack the Corporate Affairs Commission CAC Certificate and other documents of the Guild.
This futile effort of his has made him embittered, disenchanted and jealous of the growth and successes of the Guild after his unceremonious exit, leading to his recent outburst.
Meanwhile, the name used in his recent publication are pseudonyms as they are neither known nor registered as members of the Guild.
It was also on record that during the two year reign of Olawale Abideen in acting capacity, he used his Business Account, Investigation Media Limited, to defraud Government Officials and unsuspecting Nigerians under the guise of the Guild, which was one of the reasons that led to his disgraceful exit.
The nefarious attitude of Olawale Abideen can be traced back to his days in the University of Illorin as the President of Faculty of Art Student Association, FASA, when he embezzled the Association’s Fund, which led to his delayed deployment for the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, in 2005.
He was made to refund the embezzled money through the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs, Late Prof. Shehu Jimoh and the Dean, Faculty of Art, Late Prof. Ali Ajetunmobi.
Also, his criminal attitude led to his sack from The Source Magazine in 2015, having embezzled the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, The Source Magazine Chapel’s funds, coupled with indiscipline and poor attitude to work.
The Guild has however instructed its legal team to take necessary actions against him and Investigation Media Limited, the Publisher of Security Monitor.
NGIJ is not and will never be deterred by Abideen’s attempt to discredit its good work at deepening our fledgling democracy, holding government accountable to the people and setting agenda for same.
NGIJ members are indeed credible journalists with years of experience working with reputable media houses.
Not only is NGIJ well recognised by NUJ, the inauguration of its first substantive and present Executive Council was done by then Lagos NUJ Chairman, Dr Qasim Akinreti on August 19, 2020 in company of Barrister Joshua Isijola, a senior lawyer and Notary Public, in line with the NGIJ Constitution.
Its numerous members across the country are qualified journalists, including the President, Ayo Mojoyin who holds a Bachelors degree in Mass Communication from Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, OOU; It’s Vice President, Israel Bolaji who holds a Master’s Degree in English from the University of Lagos and its National Secretary, AbdulRahman Aliagan who having bagged a Bachelor’s degree in History from the University of Ilorin holds a Certificate in Journalism, Advertising and Public Relations from the International Institute of Journalism, IIJ, Abuja with close to two decades of experience in journalism.
Meanwhile, the Kwara State assessment by the Guild was coordinated by Mr Oyewale Oyelola, another formidable journalist with a degree in Mass Communication from Kwara State University.
NGIJ’s National PRO, Femi Oyewale is amongst numerous other qualified journalists in its membership. Oyewale holds a diploma in mass communication, BA in English from Olabisi Onabanjo University and a cerificate in journalism from the prestigious institute for the advancement of Journalism in South Africa. He is also the publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Sahara Weekly and Sahara TV.