A reporter with the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, Tega Sampson Oghenedoro, has been arrested by the Department of State Service, DSS, for allegedly demanding the sum of N50 million from the Niger State government in order not publish a damning fraud story that implicates its officials.
Oghenedoro, 28, was said to have contacted the Niger State government in July and August this year, saying that he possessed certain documents that showed how the state perpetrated fraud and threatening to publish his findings if he was not paid the sum of N50 million.
According to the account of the DSS, the state had played along with the journalist and promised to pay him the amount on the condition that he comes to the state; thereafter, an air ticket was purchased for him to enable him fly from Delta State where he resides.
However, as soon as the journalist landed the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, he was arrested by the men of the DSS.