Sacked Managing Director/Deputy Editor-in-Chief of THE SUN, Mr. Tony Onyima, was not aware of the fate that would befall him until the day it was formally announced, News Express can reveal this afternoon. Onyima was unceremoniously removed last week Tuesday (December 17) by SUN Publisher, former Abia State Governor Orji Uzor Kalu, after four years in charge of the popular tabloid.

“Onyima did not have an idea that he was about to lose his job,” a competent source told News Express. “There was no hint of it during the Monday management meeting, so he did not have the privilege of giving a valedictory speech at the meeting. Orji told him that he was going shortly before the board meeting held the next day,” the source added.

Another source close to Chief Kalu told News Express that Onyima had been reduced to a mere figure head months before his ouster.

“The editorial and advertising departments were taken from him and given to his then deputy, Femi Adesina, as at the time all title editors were replaced on July 1. From that time, we knew he was living on borrowed time,” the source said.

Onyima served as Executive Director (Operations) of The Sun Publishing Company Limited for eight years before replacing pioneer Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, Mike Awoyinfa. He has been replaced with Adesina but remains on the board in non-executive capacity.

•Photo shows former SUN MD/Editor-in-Chief, tony Onyima.