The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, has concluded plans to institute legal action against Mr.Michael Ekamon Bassey popularly known as “Ekpe,” over allegations of defamation, trespass, and the alleged unlawful arrest and detention of a member of its staff.
The Council, in a statement issued and signed on Thursday in Abuja by the Secretary, Comrade Jide Oyekunle alleged that Bassey, who is neither a member of the NUJ nor an accredited visitor to the Council, has been frequenting the Secretariat while presenting himself as the Supreme Leader of the Supreme Niger Delta Youth Council Worldwide (SNDYCW).
According to the statement, on Monday, June 29, 2026, Mr. Michael Newgent Bassey approached Mr. Ifechukwude Irebonye, a staff member of the Council, who voluntarily assisted him in recovering his lost WhatsApp messages on his mobile phone. The restoration was successfully completed.
The statement further alleged that on the following day, Tuesday, June 30, at about 6:00 p.m., Bassey reported Irebonye to officers at the Utako Police Station, accusing him of fraudulently transferring more than ₦700,000 from his bank account while handling the phone.
The Council maintained that Irebonye denied the allegation but was arrested and detained overnight at the police station before he was released on bail the following day after the intervention of the FCT NUJ Council Chairman, Comrade Grace Ike.
According to the statement, the Investigating Police Officer (IPO), Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) John, reportedly disclosed that preliminary investigations indicated the disputed bank transactions were carried out earlier on the same day before Bassey visited the NUJ Secretariat for assistance with his phone.
The Council further claimed that while Irebonye had submitted his bank statement to investigators as requested, Bassey who is alleged to be at large had yet to provide his own bank statement to substantiate his allegations
Reacting to the development, the
Chairman of the NUJ FCT Council,
Comrade Grace Ike, said the Council would pursue the matter to its logical conclusion and initiate legal proceedings over what she described as the defamation and unlawful detention of its staff member, subject to the outcome of police investigations.
She also announced that Bassey had been barred from entering the NUJ FCT Council Secretariat pending the resolution of the matter.
“Ekpe will be sued for defaming and detaining my staff “ the award winning Chairman added ”
Never miss a moment! Get the stories shaping Nigeria, delivered straight to your phone. Follow Peoplesdaily Newspaper on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive reports, and the headlines everyone will be talking about, before anyone else.
