The General Editor of FirstNews Online Newspaper, Mr Segun Olatunji has resigned in protest from the organization but not without demanding that the one year outstanding salaries owed him and other staffers be promptly paid.
He claimed that the newspaper Publisher, Mr Daniel Iworiso-Markson is very much aware of the backlog of salaries which remained unpaid since one year ago.
Mr Olatuniji’s ordeal had begun on March 14 when about 20 stern-looking gunmen abducted him from his Abule Ẹgba residence.
His trauma had lasted two whole weeks in military detention in an underground cell in Abuja.
15 days after the journalist’s gruelling ordeal in detention, the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) which had earlier denied his being held in their custody later left him off the hook.
Matters took a new twist early this week when senior lawyers, acting
under brief of the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Gbajabiamiala who was the main actor in the controversial news report, filed a defamation case in the law court.
Earlier, this morning, the Management of First News Online opted to settle out of court and publicly apologized to Gbajabiamiala in writing.
In protest, the Editor of the newspaper, Mr Olatunji swiftly tendered his letter of resignation and further demanded settlement of his salary which he claimed to be in backlog since one year ago.
His resignation letter dated May 8, 2024 addressed to the newspaper Publisher read thus: “In view of the latest development regarding the Gbajabiamila story and the stance of the company’s Management, I hereby tender my resignation as the General Editor of First News.
“It has become imperative for me to resign my appointment for the safety of my person and my family.
“However, I want to state that in no distant time, the truth will come out and then it’ll be my word against theirs.
“I hope the Management of First Media Network Limited, publishers of First News newspaper, will be magnanimous enough to fully settle the one year outstanding salaries I am being owed, in no time.
“I thank the company’s management for giving me the opportunity to contribute my quota to its operations in the past four years”.
