The embattled publisher of Firstnewsonline, Mr. Segun Olatunji has confessed that he was contracted by Mr. Rotimi Williams, a former staff of Punch Newspapers to publish false stories on the Head of Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) and Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila.
Mr. Segun Olatunji who was arrested by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) on Friday, March 15, 2024, to explain the content of his publication following a petition by Gbajabiamila made this confession during an emergency press conference organised by the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and International Press Institute (IPI, Nigeria) and stated that his detention by the DIA was in relation to stories he published on the Director of DIA and Chief of Staff to the President.
On January 29, 2024, Olatunji published a story in with the caption, “How Gbajabiamila attempted to corner $30bn, 66 Houses Special Investigator traced to Sabiu.” Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila then wrote a petition to all security agencies urging them to fish out the sponsors of defamatory publications against him for prosecution.
The DIA commenced investigation shortly after arresting Mr. Olatunji who went ahead to make useful confessions to the DIA. The DIA investigation team in their report established a prima facie case against Mr. Olatunji Segun bordering on cybercrime, specifically cyberbullying and cyber defamation of character of a government official.
In the report, the DIA wrote, “Olatunji in his written statement and audio confession claimed he was contracted to publish the Gbajabiamila story by one Mr. Rotimi Williams with phone number 08033207090. Mr. Olatunji and Mr. Rotimi Williams were formerly staff at the PUNCH, Olatunji said that Rotimi lives in Abuja and now a media consultant.
“Since December 2023, Mr. Rotimi Williams has been communicating with Mr. Olatunji regarding the allegations against the Chief of Staff. Rotimi claimed he had sources both in the presidency and in the special investigation team led by Jim Obazee, which was investigating former P.A to President Buhari. On the 24th of January, 2024, Mr. Rotimi allegedly confirmed to Mr. Olatunji to go ahead and publish news about Gbajabiamila. Thereafter, on 29th January, 2024, Olatunji went ahead to publish the story.
“Mr. Olatunji further confirmed Mr. Rotimi Williams paid him 170,000 Naira for his effort to publish the news and give stipends to other online publishers, which Olatunji allegedly confirmed he syndicated the story to: newscontact.com.ng (Yinka), horizontimes.ng.com (Sulaimon Fasasi), platformtimes.com.ng (Daud Olatunji), thedailycrucible.ng.com (Earnest), salienttimesonline.com.ng (Abiodun Taiwo), theencounter.com.ng (Michael Azeez), trustafricanews.com.ng (Ayo Otitoju),”
The DIA report noted that Mr. Olatunji in the course of his ordeal wrote an apology letter to the Chief of Staff where he sought forgiveness from Femi Gbajabiamila for publishing the defamatory story alleging diversion of $30 billion by the CoS.
The remorseful Segun Olatunji expressed deep regret for succumbing to pressure from Mr. Rotimi Williams to publish the defamatory stories. It is also gathered that Mr. Rotimi Williams remains at large as efforts to get him has been unsuccessful.