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The Source magazine has apologized to PREMIUM TIMES over allegations that an article published by the latter was responsible for the death of Diepreye Alamiesyeseigha, the former Bayelsa State governor.
In a letter dated October, 20, 2015, the magazine admitted “error of facts” in its Vol. 38 No. 02 of October 26th edition which had as its cover story an article entitled ‘Alamieyeseigha: How False Story Killed Him, His Regrets.’
In the said publication, the magazine had specifically stated: “An online portal, PREMIUM TIMES had recently rehashed its March 28, 2013 story and presented it to unsuspecting readers as fresh. A section of the traditional media also strangely keyed into the PREMIUM TIMES stale story and published it as fresh. Quoting the immediate past British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Andrew Pocock, PREMIUM TIMES had reported that the UK government was interested in extraditing Alamieyeseigha to stand trial and that a request had already been made to the federal government to that effect.”
PREMIUM TIMES had responded swiftly, threatening a legal action against the magazine if it fails to provide unassailable proof that it indeed rehashed the story on the late former governor.
“PREMIUM TIMES is a medium built on impregnable tradition of objectivity, courage, professionalism and globally-acclaimed penchant for excellence and diligence,” Musikilu Mojeed, the newspaper’s Managing Editor, had said.
“It leaves much to be desired that a national magazine like The Source would hit the newsstands with a story that is neither true nor researched in line with ethos and ethics of journalism.”
Mr. Alamieyeseigha, 62, who governed oil rich Bayelsa State between 1999 to 2005 when he was impeached, died of complications arising from high blood pressure and diabetes in Port Harcourt, last Saturday.
“The correct story is that on March 28, 2013, PREMIUM TIMES, quoting a former British High Commissioner to Nigeria reported that the British government had not foreclosed its interest in having former Governor Alamieyeseigha extradited to the UK to face money laundering charges,” The Source magazine wrote in its letter signed by Igho Akeregha, the magazine’seditor.
”Premium Times in the 2013 report also gave a background of events culminating in how Alamieyeseigha fled the UK after he was charged to a British court for alleged money laundering.
“Curiously, some Nigerian dailies went to town penultimate week, insinuating that the UK government had made a ‘fresh’ extradition request on Alamieyeseigha. And this, naturally created panic for Alamieyeseigha, who was at the time, in the United Arab Emirates for medical check-up.”
The magazine said that the development led to a considerable interest by the media, adding that they were on the verge of going to press when they discovered that most of the mainstream newspapers that carried the report attributed their source to PREMIUM TIMES.
“But when we checked, we found that PREMIUM TIMES did not publish any fresh report different from that of 2013.
“Regrettably, our reporter erroneously wrote that PREMIUM TIMES rehashed the story. It was some national dailies rather than PREMIUM TIMES, that rehashed the 2013 story and presented it to unsuspecting readers as ‘fresh.’
“We deeply and honestly regret the embarrassment and inconvenience this mix-up has caused the management and staff of PREMIUM TIMES who we hold in very high esteem. We have also taken steps to correct the mistake in this week’s edition of the magazine.”
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