Aliko Dangote

For daring to publish that the Dagote Refinery could be taken over by the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), the the Editor-in-Chief of MMS Plus, Mr. Kingsley Anaroke the Editor of MMS Plus, Mr. Kenneth Jukpor are under threat as armed policemen have invaded the MMS Plus in Lagos for reasons not unconnected with the Dangote story.

Four armed policemen early today, reportedly invaded the headquarters of Kings Communications Limited, publishers of MMS Plus newspaper.

A statement signed by the Editor-in-Chief of MMS Plus, Mr. Kingsley Anaroke said the raid was to arrest him and the Editor of MMS Plus, Mr. Kenneth Jukpor over a story it published on to the possible take over of Dangote refinery by AMCON owing to increasing debts .

Anaroke accused the image maker of Dangote Group, Tony Chiejina, of been behind the seige, noting that Chiejina had earlier threatened him over the report, and have reportedly demanded that the story be pulled down.

He said, “lt would be recalled that the seige by the police is a follow-up by earlier threats made by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Dangote Group, Mr. Anthony Chiejina at the weekend.

“Chiejina had threatened to deal with the editorial leadership of the news outfit via legal action following the news story titled “AMCON May Take Over Dangote Refinery As Liabilities Swell” written by our Reporter and published by our media organization

“After several failed attempts to get the Editor pull down the story, the Dangote spokesman instead of a rejoinder or the legal action which he threatened against our media house, he has resorted to bullying by sending four policemen to beseige the headquarters of Kings Communications Limited in Festac, Lagos since 7am.”

The statement said the policemen sought to have access to the Editor-in-Chief office, which was locked as at the time they visited.

“The police men asked for keys to the personal office of the Editor -in-Chief.

“It should also be on record that Chiejina had searched for the photos of the news editor, Jukpor and Publisher, Anaroke on Sunday and sent them to the editor as a subtle threat which was ignored.

“This press statement has become necessary to draw the attention of the global press to the plight of Journalists who refused to be gagged.”

From all indications, the issue at stake is the take over or not of the Dangote Refinery by AMCON.

Recall that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) had recently approved the acquisition of 20 per cent minority stake by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in the Dangote Petroleum and Petrochemical Refinery.

Also, AMCON had in 2010 purchased 12,743 bad loans worth N3.8 trillion from 22 Eligible Financial Institutions (EFIs) for a purchase price of N1.8 trillion.

Sources at AMCON say the Dangote Refineries was not part of the bad debts that it took over and there was no way it would be taking over the assets of the company now.

Who then is behind the threats to Anaroke and Jukpor?

The days to come seem very pregnant and the Nigeria Media community looks forward to the complexion of the delivery