A former (Saturday) editor of THISDAY Newspaper, Paul Ibe has revealed how Nduka Obaeigbena, the chairman of the newspaper owed him salaries and entitlements due to him from 2000 to 2002, and till present, has refused to pay him.
Ibe said that he was owed the sum of 114,000 rands and 19,000 dollars being the cost of expenditure incurred while he was the newspaper’s correspondent in South Africa
According to him, the monies were in unpaid monthly salaries/arrears, housing loan, transport allowances and unremitted tax and pension contribution.
Ibe also narrated how he was given a key for an unexisting accommodation, bemoaning how he had to live like a refugee while in South Africa.
The now-spokesperson of the Atiku-Presidential Campaign also recalled how he remitted some money to the company in Nigeria despite the state of affairs between the duo.
Ibe whose appointment was terminated on July 13, 2010, filed a case at the National Industrial Court in 2013, praying the court declare his sack unlawful, illegal and in bad faith.
Included in the suit were Nduka Obaigbena and Leaders and Company, publishers of the newspaper.
Ibe’s counsel, Noble Ifeme, tendered documentary evidences to substantiate the claims with the court admitting them.
These claims follow a litany of allegations from numerous ex-staff of the newspaper over Obaeigbena’s accustomed act of non-payment of salaries and entitlements.
In time past till present, his media outfit has been accused of unprofessionalism and unethical practice spiked by non-payment of staff salaries and lack of fulfilling pensions demands, that most times compel journalists in his establishment to pander to unscrupulous practices to survive.