The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, has cautioned members of the public, government agencies, and corporate bodies to beware of fraudulent groups misusing its secretariat to stage fake press conferences and defraud unsuspecting individuals.
In a statement by the Council’s Secretary, Comrade Jide Oyekunle, the Union condemned faceless coalitions that, in collaboration with non-journalists, have turned the NUJ premises into a platform for blackmail, extortion, and harassment while falsely presenting themselves as representatives of the Union.
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The NUJ noted that some of these groups have gone as far as sharing flyers announcing press briefings at the secretariat located at Plot 4, Cadastral Zone, BO5, Ekukinam Street, Utako, Abuja.
In many cases, they fail to even show up, exposing the fraudulent nature of their schemes.
The Council stressed that the NUJ Secretariat is not for hire to individuals or groups seeking to push personal, political, or commercial interests through deceitful means.
It reiterated that the premises exist to protect the integrity of the journalism profession, not as a platform for fraud.
The Union urged government agencies, organizations, and the public to always verify with the FCT NUJ leadership before attending or recognizing any press conference claimed to be held at its premises.
Only accredited journalists and recognized professional media bodies are authorized to use the facility for legitimate purposes.
To tackle the menace, the NUJ said it has intensified efforts to identify those behind the fraudulent acts, promising to hand them over to security agencies for prosecution. It also announced stricter vetting and security procedures at the secretariat to prevent further abuse.
NUJ FCT reaffirmed its commitment to upholding ethical standards in journalism and called on genuine practitioners and stakeholders to work together in cleansing the profession of such malpractices.