*Accuse Jimoh Ibrahim of threat to life, “a litany of lies” and “voodoo management”

The battle for the soul of Newswatch magazine has taken a dangerous turn with the alleged threat to the lives of the Founding Directors, Ray Ekpu, Dan Agbese, Yakubu Mohammed and Soji Akinrinade.

In an extensive reply to the claims of the magazine’s core investor, Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim, made available to Transport & Business Express, Ekpu and co wrote: “He is busy threatening our lives but that will not deter us. We will not allow him to breach the agreement and walk away.”

They also alleged that Ibrahim “has told the Newswatch staff that he is ready to spend more than a billion naira on journalists and judges and tie us up in court for a long time.”

Though the case is yet to go to court, Transport & Business Express had earlier exclusively reported that the Newswatch Founding Directors were working in that direction.

In their reaction entitled “A litany of lies”, the Newswatch Founding Directors accused Ibrahim of brazen lies and of “voodoo management.”

Ibrahim, who reportedly acquired 51 per cent of Newswatch last year, suspended the operations of the iconic magazine on August 7.

Newswatch Founding Directors have accused him of acting unilaterally, even as he has yet to pay the agreed 510 million naira for the 51 per cent stake in Newswatch.

Transport & Business Express will shortly publish the statement by the Newswatch Founding Directors in full.

*Photo shows Ray Ekpu.