By Ono Yima
Segun Olatunji, the FirstNews editor abducted and detained by the military, has resigned from his position. This follows an apology by the newspaper’s management to the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, over a controversial article.
Olatunji was taken from his Lagos home on March 15, 2024, and held for two weeks. He decided to resign as General Editor for his and his family’s safety. The resignation came after FirstNews management apologized for a story written by Olatunji, titled “How Gbajabiamila attempted to corner $30bn, 66 houses traced to Sabiu.” The management admitted the story was based on false information and issued a retraction.
In his resignation letter, Olatunji expressed his hope that the truth would eventually emerge and requested the settlement of his outstanding salary. Despite his resignation, he thanked the organization for the opportunity to work with them.
Olatunji was previously a correspondent for The PUNCH in Kaduna State. After his abduction, the International Press Institute, Nigeria, found him in the custody of the Defence Intelligence Agency in Abuja, where he endured harsh conditions. Media pressure led to his release.
Media organizations, including the Nigerian Guild of Editors and the Newspapers Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria, demanded an investigation into his abduction. The Defence Intelligence Agency met with these stakeholders, resulting in the case being referred to the National Media Complaints Commission for adjudication. The stakeholders emphasized the importance of resolving such issue in line with Nigeria’s constitution.