Ayade Aide Refutes Claims of Involvement in Altercation With Forestry Commission, Issues Press Release

Excerpt:

The baseless story that appeared in the Sunday publication by www.Calitown.com news blog of 27th November, 2022 entitled: “Wood: Ayade’s Aide Fingered In Attack On CR Forestry Commission Officials“ is a deliberate misinformation by the Cross River Forestry Commission in an attempt to mislead the public against the Chairman, Anti-Deforestation Task Force (North), Governors’ Office, Calabar.

Facts of the matter are :

1. The Chairman Cross River Anti-Deforestation Taskforce North was never at the scene of the incident nor in direct connivance with perpetrators of the attack. On this particular day, Chief Asegem was bidding final respect to his elder whose burial took place on November 23-24,2022 and those alleged to have beaten officials of the commission were with Chief Asegem at the burial. It is inhuman for people in a mourning mood to have the luxury of engaging in any altercation with a recognized government agency officials.
2. The allegation of Mr Frank Edu, DG Cross River Forestry Commission that the altercation between the forestry commission and timber dealers on the said date at Mfuma Ntrigom was carried out by the Anti-Deforestation Task Force is baseless and concocted. In fact, the DG Forestry Commission in a phone conversation had denied pointing fingers on Chief Asegem as culprit in the attack on the Commission. He confirmed that the said Hilux Vehicle belonging to one of the timber dealers based in Ogoja was a mistaken identity and not owned by Chief Asegem. The ash coloured Hilux pictured below does not belong to Chief Asegem as alleged by marauding blackmailers.
3. Pointers indicate that the attack may be the handiwork of Timber Dealers against the exploitation of Forestry Commission officials and not Chief Asegem nor any of his men as being alleged. Investigation reveals that Forestry Commission Officials and Timber Dealers had disagreements over their weekly payment and this has nothing to do with the Anti-Deforestation Task Force.
4. We challenge those fuelling the unfounded allegation against Chief Asegem to show proof in any form or tender a public apology within 24 Hours.
5. As a very committed member of the government, Chief Asegem Emmanuel has high regard for human dignity and sanctity of life. Thus, he can not condescend to that level as painted by brazen falsehood circulated by the blog and merchants of lies who fed bloggers with one sided narrative. It confirms that the publication is fake news. A good medium must balance their information in an objective and accurate manner. However, Calitown swallowed the direct blackmail without verification.
6. The purported attack by officials of Cross River Anti-Deforestation Task Force in Northern Senatorial District is UNTRUE especially the circumstance of the attack which occurred when Chief Asegem Emmanuel was in a sober mood following the death of his elder brother whose burial took place on the 23-24 November, 2022.
7. As a standing procedure, Cross River Anti-Deforestation Task Force is committed to fostering synergy with the Forestry Commission and security agencies to forestall illegal logging of woods in line with government’s directive against deforestation in any guise. It does not engage in acts of violence as portrayed by the report in the publication.
8. We urge the publisher of Calitown to immediately tender an unreserved apology for misleading the public with malicious content which runs contrary to the canons of journalism hinged on balanced, objective, accurate and fair representation of information before publication.

Signed:

Chief Asegem Emmanuel

Chairman Anti-Deforestation Task Force (North) Governor’s Office, Calabar