News Central TV says it has launched an internal investigation into FIJ’s report indicating one of its reporters was among the journalists offered a N50,000 bribe to share at the Lekki Toll Plaza during the #EndBadGovernance protest on Thursday.
West Africa Weekly and FIJ had reported how the Chairperson of Iru-Victoria Island Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Rasheedat Abiodun Adu, through one of her aides, offered a bribe of N50,000 to journalists covering the #EndBadGovernance protests at the Lekki tollgate in Lagos.
An unidentified man of the two aides who accompanied Adu to the protest venue in a brown envelope offered the bribe, stating, “My Oga (Rasheedat Adu) has something for you guys. Don’t video me.”
Left-Right: NTA’s unidentified reporter, unidentified Rasheedat Adu’s aide removing the brown envelope underneath his native attire, and News Central TV reporter
The N50,000 (500 Naira Notes) bribe in the brown envelope was handed over to a woman with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), who then asked a freelance reporter with Twenty20 Media Limited to collate the names of reporters on the ground.
NTA’s unidentified reporter heading to a corner
While the purpose of the bribe was to ensure journalists report pro-government rhetoric, FIJ’s Emmanuel Uti and West Africa Weekly’s Mayowa Durosinmi rejected the offer as they were called upon to partake in the unethical practice.
Media houses whose names appear on the list were NTA, Lagos Television, News Central, and several other platforms.
In response to the reports on Friday, News Central TV said, “We are taking these allegations very seriously and have launched an internal investigation.”
Mayowa DurosinmiAugust 2, 20241 Mins read264
