Effedua Disassociates Self From Alleged Role In Purported Ministerial, Sister Agency ‘Disagreement’

Gives Online Publisher 24 Hours To Retract Story

BY GBOGBOWA GBOWA

Rector of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Commodore Duja Effedua (Rtd) has frowned at a report linking him to alleged disagreement between the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr. Olufemi Oloruntola the Acting Registrar/CEO, Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), Mrs. Chinyere Uromta during the just concluded world maritime day (WMD) celebration; last Thursday.

An online medium not Pinnacle Time had reported that the rector has described a purported standoff between the perm sec and the acting registrar as ‘uncalled for’, even as the report attributed sympathetic actions to the rector, all of which Effedua has denied, accusing the online newspaper and itspublisher and reporter of speculation and cyber stalking.

He said, “Number one, the actions ascribed to me in the report were outright false, they were not just false and misleading, l am aware that this newspaper and its owners have never seen anything good in my administration. I think that this report was therefore, deliberately written to hurt and undermine my person in the hope that they will succeed in creating a misunderstanding between me and the ministry.

“I never also granted any journalist media chat that day, l am not aware there was any issue between our perm sec and the council registrar, l think this is a clear case of cyber stalking”, the rector said, adding:

“I demand that this report be retracted and taken down, l am informing my lawyers to immediately communicate with the publisher that l intend to sue for this serious libel against me. Its sheer wickedness to try to use the innocent to fight your battles, the media should be an agent of positive change and not one given to unwarranted speculation and destructive tendency. S

“ince my attention was drawn to the report I have been receiving calls. The story by the newspaper is a shock to me. I am shocked because l have never met him (the publisher) and l do not know him. Where did he get the story from?

“The story is false, concocted and intended to create bad blood while courting friendship in other areas. I do not want to be drawn into such petty politics. Everyone should focus on their work.

“I feel very embarrassed and assaulted, emotionally. This is a case of cyber bullying and l will not tolerate nor condone it. They have twenty four hours to retract that story or face the consequences.”