Yola -based GOTEL Communications Ltd believed to be owned by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has written a petition to security agencies in the light of threats to its workers and property.Read the petition below:
22nd January, 2013
Dear Sir,
COMPLAINT ON INTIMIDATION, THREAT TO LIVES OF STAFF AND PROPERTIES OF GOTEL COMMUNICATIONS LIMITED, YOLA BY A PERSON CLAIMIMG TO BE THE CHIEF SECURITY OFFICER TO THE GOVERNOR OF ADAMAWA STATE
We act as Counsel to Gotel Communications Limited, Yola (herein after referred to as “Our Client”) on whose specific instructions we write you this letter to seek your honour’s urgent intervention and protection for the staff and facilities of Our Client’s Broadcast station in Yola.
Our Client is a Private media broadcast organization with three broadcast media, namely, Radio Gotel AM, Gotel FM and Gotel TV, all based in Yola Adamawa State. Gotel Communications Limited is a general programme media outfit with the mission to provide the highest quality programming in Nigeria and on the continent that educates, enlightens and inspires viewers.
In the pursuit of this mission our client, in all its programmes have always been guided by the regulations of the National Broadcasting Commission that stipulates equal opportunities to all shades of ideas and interests.
Our client has briefed us that it runs a live broadcast political programme tagged “Dialogue” on the TV station and on the radio stations and that this programme attracts politicians from all the political parties in Adamawa State.
It is also our brief that, one of the editions of the said programme focused on the =N=500M Federal Government Flood Relief Fund to Adamawa State and that some eminent politicians representing all political parties in the state featured in the programme.
Our Client has informed us further that shortly after the first episode of the programme, the TV producer of the programme, Miss Eno Jonathan received a hand written threat letter dated 14/12 from a person claiming to be the Chief Security Officer to the Governor of Adamawa State. (Copy attached)
We have been further informed by Our Client that another staff of Gotel Communications Limited, Mallam Shekarau Yerima is also under threat that his life will be eliminated by the same person claiming to be speaking on behalf of the Adamawa State Government who identified himself on the phone as the Chief Security Officer to the Governor of Adamawa State. That on the 15th January, 2013 he received a text message from telephone no. 08166094950 with the message “I will destroy your life” and that, at about 10:36am on Tuesday, 22nd January, 2013 he received a call that lasted for about six minutes and 36 seconds from Telephone No 08088811117 from the same person claiming to be the Chief Security Officer to the Governor of Adamawa State who warned him that they will eliminate the key staff of Gotel Communications Limited by death and that the facilities of the station will be destroyed for allowing Politicians not supportive of the Governor of Adamawa State to appear in “Dialogue “ the political Programme of the station.
The said caller specifically informed Mallam Shekarau Yerima to communicate the telephone discussion to the management of Gotel Communications Limited that some thugs have been prepared to storm the station to eliminate some staff, destroy the facilities and that the attack will happen sooner than expected.
Ordinarily, the threat would have been disregarded, but, considering the quarter from which the threat was said to emanates, the persistence and the prevailing security situation in the country, it could not be taken with levity any longer. The Management and the entire staff of Gotel Communications Limited now live in fear, while a general trepidation pervades in the station.
It is against this back ground, that our client has instructed us to bring to your notice this unseemly intimidation from the person claiming to be the Chief Security Officer to the Governor of Adamawa State to the only private media Station in the state that has provided employment to hundreds of Nigerians.
We therefore, wish to humbly notify you on the likelihood of attacks on some staff and facilities of Gotel Communications Limited, Yola and on behalf of our client, we do seek your urgent intervention and the use of your good office to ensure the proper investigation of the matter and to kindly direct the Adamawa state Commissioner of Police to take appropriate measures to safe guard the lives of staff and properties of Gotel Communications Limited, Yola.
Please accept the assurances of our warmest regards and esteem
Thank You.
Yours faithfully,
FOR: RELIANCE LAW CHAMBERS*
COMPANY SECRETARIES/LEGAL ADVISERS
E.O. OJO,Esq., ACIArb.
PRINCIPAL PARTNER
