The Blueprint Newspapers Group whose corporate office was on Friday, raided by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on allegations of involvement in fraudulent activities, has said that they are not involved in any shady deals.
Making the position in a release made available to LEADERSHIP SUNDAY yesterday, executive editor of the paper, Hajia Zainab Suleiman Okino said the paper’s chairman and editor in chief who was out of town during the riad denied any shortcoming in contractual obligation to any agency.
Excerpts of the text read; “This morning, Friday May 20, 2011, an armed team of operatives from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), stormed the head office of the Blueprint newspaper at No. 26, Mississippi Street, Maitama, on a raid that lasted two hours, from 10:30 a.m to 21:30 p.m. While in the premises of the newspaper, they ransacked several offices, including the office of our chairman, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, where they carted away several files and documents and seized laptops of staff, including desktops belonging to the company.
“While the raid lasted, workers’ phones were seized just as members of staff were barred from entering or going out of the premises. At the end of the raid, no fewer than eight top management staff of the newspaper were arrested and taken to the head office of the EFCC located in Wuse 11, Abuja.
“. . . The Chairman of the company, who has been out of Abuja for some days now, has denied any shortcomings in contractual obligations to any agencies, both public and private.
“Meanwhile, the EFCC is still holding on to six members, while only two were released by 6. 45 p.m. We call on the agency to release our staff and allow the law to take its full course. As a responsible corporate organisation, we believe strongly in due process and are very willing to open the books for the agency to carry out its investigation thoroughly.
“. . . In the face of this glaring intimidation from the EFCC, we remain committed to the ideals of our coming into existence: For Truth and Justice.