5:T678,

Yesterday (September 10, 2013), Sahara Reporters published a scurrilous and totally false story titled “Nigeria’s Finance Minister Okonjo-Iweala Forced THISDAY Publisher to Sack Editor” on its website.

The report claimed that the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, called the Publisher of THISDAY Newspapers, Mr. Nduka Obaigbena, last Saturday to demand the sack of the Saturday Editor of the paper, Mr. Laurence Ani, over a story she was allegedly unhappy about.

It further alleged that as a result of the action, the editor was asked to go on compulsory leave.

The story is a total fabrication. The alleged conversation did not take place. In fact the minister was on a flight on her way back from the United States on the day in question. In other words, the details of the story do not exist outside the warped imagination of Sahara Reporters.

The Publisher of THISDAY has indicated his willingness to confirm that she did not at any time reach out to him on any such issue or make any such demands as alleged.

This story is the latest salvo in a campaign of falsehood which Sahara Reporters has waged against the Coordinating Minister on behalf of its pay masters.

We are certain that the campaign will fail because it is founded on falsehood and Nigerians can see through the antics of this disreputable medium.

•Nwabuikwu is Special Adviser to the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance. Photo shows Dr. Okonjo-Iweala.

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