The Management of Media Trust Group, owners of Daily Trust, Trust TV and Trust Radio, has reacted to the threat of the Nigerian government to sue the publication over a report on Samoa agreement.
At a media briefing in Abuja, on Saturday, Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information, had described the report on the agreement as “baseless and sensational”.
He also accused Daily Trust of attempting to set the country on fire, saying an issue not as severe as such made other governments clamped down on the media.
“On the part of the Government, we continue on the honourable path of civility by restraining ourselves from taking self-help or draconian measures. While past governments clamped down on the media for infractions much lower than this, we are however toeing the path of civility and the rule of law.”
“The Federal Government is lodging a formal complaint to the NPAN Ombudsman on this irresponsible reporting.
In addition, the Federal Government will use every lawful means to seek redress in the court of law,” he had said.
But responding in a statement signed by Maryam Aminu Bello, Esq, the Company Secretary/Legal Adviser, Media Trust Group, the newspaper said, “Two ministers of government, and other sundry commentators have taken us to the cleaners over our story on the Samoa Agreement in particular, and some other reports published earlier.
We have followed with attention what these government officials said, and left unsaid, and we will publish that in full, for the records.
We have also acknowledged lapses in our reporting on this particular matter, pointed out to us by professional colleagues, and we will review and take appropriate measures.
DAILY GIST reports that Nigeria was among Organisation of Africa, Caribbean and Pacific States(OACPS) that signed the agreement with the EU in Brussels, Belgium, on June 28.
