Journalist petitions Police over threat to life by Kogi Chief of Staff, Edward Onoja

Mr. Wale Odunsi, Deputy Editor of DAILY​​ POST, has petitioned the Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, over alleged threat to his life.

In a petition submitted to the Force Headquarters in Abuja on Monday April 9, Odunsi stated that Mr. Edward Onoja, Chief of Staff to Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello threatened to kill him over a report published on DAILY POST’s news portal.

Part of the petition reads, “​Mr. Onoja called me at exactly 10:39am on Sunday April 8, 2018​ via phone number 07088698212. The call was less than three minutes. (Please see call record screenshot).​

“He complained about a story we published about him and insisted it was false. I politely told him to write to our management to formally complain.​ ​But he dismissed my advice.

“He claimed the story was a hatchet job but I quickly replied him that some other media houses ​- including The Punch and Guardian Newspapers – ​reported similar story.​

“Mr. Onoja continued to speak in harsh tones and told me point blank that he would order hit on me. I asked if he was threatening me and he said ‘Yes, mark my words. I will kill you’.

“He went on to say ‘Anywhere I see you, I will tear you apart’. These are weighty statements which any reasonable person must not take lightly.

“I am writing to you to please use your good office to investigate this threat before my life is cut short. Even though I believe God Almighty give and take life, a direct and unequivocal statement such as Mr. Onoja’s should not be swept under the carpet.”

When DAILY POST’s Editor put a call across to Onoja to confirm if he actually threatened to kill Mr. Odunsi, he simply asked the journalist to go to court.

According to him, “Don’t worry, you will hear from our lawyer.”

When prodded further if he vowed to kill the journalist, Mr. Onoja angrily said, “Then he should go to court.

“Just like I said he would hear from my lawyer, he should go to court, that is how it works in Nigeria.

Asked why he refused to send a letter, expressing his displeasure over the said story, the governor’s CoS still retorted, “I said he should go to court.”