Segun Olatunji, the First News Editor, has resigned just 24 hours after the online newspaper’s management issued an apology to Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, over a controversial story linking him to an alleged $60 billion heist.
The story, titled “How Gbajabiamila attempted to corner $30bn, 66 houses traced to Sabiu,” was penned by Olatunji. Following its publication, Olatunji was reportedly abducted by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) from his Lagos residence on March 15.
After enduring two weeks of torture in an underground cell in Abuja, Olatunji was released on March 28. During his ordeal, he claims his abductors threatened to kill him if he did not cease his investigations into government corruption and theft.
Gbajabiamila responded to the story by hiring a lawyer who threatened legal action unless Olatunji retracted the story and issued a public apology.
In response, First News management issued a statement expressing regret over the publication, attributing it to “falsehoods and fabricated stories handed out to us as facts by a misleading source.”
Olatunji, however, expressed dissatisfaction with the apology in his resignation letter, maintaining that the truth would eventually surface.
In his resignation letter, Olatunji cited safety concerns for himself and his family as the reason for his departure. He also urged the company’s management to settle his outstanding one-year salary promptly.
Despite resigning, Olatunji thanked the management for the opportunity to contribute to the newspaper’s operations over the past four years.