A Lagos based news medium, MMS Plus is currently in battle with the Dangote group and the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) over reports of alleged debts and planned takeover of the soon to be ready refinery owned by Dangote.
MMS Plus had published a story alleging that AMCON may soon take over the Lekki, Lagos refinery because of what it described as alleged debts by the Dangote group to some banks.
According to the management of MMS Plus, after failed attempts by the Dangote group to get the media house to pull down the story failed, policemen were sent to the newspaper office where a reporter was arrested.
A statement signed by the Editor of the newspaper, Kenneth Jukpor, stated that “Mr. Yusuf Odejobi was arrested, handcuffed and paraded for over five hours by policemen who had invaded the headquarters of Kings Communications Limited in the early hours, yesterday.
“The policemen acted on the directives of Dangote Group Spokesman, Mr. Anthony Chiejina who had threatened to deal with the leadership of the media outfit for publishing a news story titled, “AMCON May Take Over Dangote Refinery As Liabilities Swell”.
“When attempt to find the Editor-in-Chief of MMS Plus, Mr. Kingsley Anaroke and the Editor of MMS Plus, Mr. Kenneth Jukpor were futile the armed Policemen arrested Mr Odejobi, a Reporter with MMS Plus”.
However, AMCON has dismissed the report by the newspaper, stating that neither Dangote refinery nor the Dangote group is on its debtors list.
Spokesman for AMCON Jude Nwauzor added that there have never been any time the corporation planned to take over the refinery.
Meanwhile, the Zonal police command (Lagos and Ogun states), Onikan has handed over an invitation to the Publisher of MMS Plus and there are fears he may be manhandled whenever he honours the invitation.
