The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has dismissed reports that it deregistered the Shi’ite-owned Al-Mizan Newspapers, describing the reports as illegal, false and mischievous.

A statement signed on Sunday in Kaduna, by Bello Hamza, Interim Secretary of the NUJ, Kaduna Council’s Interim Committee, said as a Hausa Newspaper and a private investment, Al-Mizan Newspaper is publish by the Mizani Publication Limited that is duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and is not a religious newspaper and is not owned by any Shi’ite organisation.

He described the publication as false, illegal and a mischievous claim by a desperate State Working Committee (SWC) of the Union, who have been issued a vote of no confidence by congress.

He said Al-Mizan is one of the 13 Chapels of the Kaduna Council of the NUJ, made up of several Hausa newspapers including Al-Mizan Newspaper, Gamji Newspaper, Dimokiradiyya Newspaper, Kunnen Gari Newspaper, Dillaliya Newspaper and Pointer Express Newspaper.

“The attention of the Interim Committee and the State Executive Council (SEC) of the NUJ Kaduna Council has been drawn to the recent illegal declaration stating that the Al-Mizan newspaper has been deregistered by the State Working Committee (SWC) on which a vote of no confidence has since been passed and ratified by the Congress,” Hamza stated.

He said the syndicated news piece published by some national dailies from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) was signed by Dauda Doka who impersonated as NUJ Secretary despite the vote of no confidence on the SWC.

Hamza said: “We wish to use this opportunity to remind the general public that some of the former SWC led by Zhiro Jarius Jatau and some unscrupulous elements have joined hands together parading themselves as NUJ officials and engaging in transactions in the name of the Union in total defiance to the decision of vote of no confidence by the Congress.

“They even use NUJ vehicles for personal and commercial purposes and have refused to respect the decision of the Congress and peacefully handover to the interim regime chaired by Mr. Austine Anyebe of NTA Chapel with Bello Hamza of Al-Mizan Chapel as secretary.

“The decision of the Congress which passed a vote of no confidence on the SWC that led to the dissolution of the SWC was taken in the interest of the State Council as a way of uniting the members and resolving the crises generated by the illegal impeachment of Garba Muhammad as Chairman of the Council.

“All the constitutional processes taken by the SEC were communicated to the national body of the Union in Abuja in defiance of which the former SWC is still bent on conducting an illegal bye-election to the office of the Chairman to further worsen the already deteriorated situation.

“We hereby call on all chapels and the general public to disregard all the illegal activities and acts of desperation being displayed by the former SWC as we also call on them to peacefully handover to the interim regime and desist from parading themselves as NUJ officials.

“We call on all chapels to direct all their correspondence to the Interim Committee as a way forward for the unity and peaceful coexistence of the NUJ Kaduna Council.”

Hamza added that the Interim Committee is a plan to engage in steps that will clear the ground for new leadership in the Council.

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