A statement issued yesterday by its MD/Editor-in- Chief, Mr. Eric Osagie, The Sun said it took the decision following the controversies which the payment of the compensation had generated and the need to come clean on the matter.
It read in part: “The Management of The Sun Publishing Limited has considered the public outcry and diverse controversies generated over the N120m paid by the GEJ administration as compensation to newspaper companies for the unlawful seizure of their newspapers and stoppage of circulation by armed soldiers in several cities across thecountry in June 2014.
After the unlawful action of the military, to which The Sun lost millions of Naira, we had signified the intention to commence litigation against the FG along with other affected newspaper companies.
We were later informed of the payment of N120m compensation out of which the sum of N9m was paid to The Sun Management by the NPAN.
We had no inkling whatsoever under which expenditure sub-head in the Presidency the fund was sourced and that it was allegedly part of the funds meant for the purchase of arms.
As a very responsible newspaper organization, which places premium on ethics, individual and corporate integrity, we are certainly embarrassed by the turn of events and the unfortunate insinuation of involvement in the illegal sharing of the nation’s commonwealth and the feasting on the blood of soldiers fighting the war against insurgency.
In the light of the foregoing, we have returned the cheque of N9m to the NPAN for onward transmission to the source through which it came.”
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