Yisau Babatunde reports,
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| Abdullahi Opeyemi |
A Digest Press reporter, Habibullah Temako, has received threats of legal action from Comrade Abdulrafiu Abdullah Opeyemi, a former Students’ Union Caretaker Committee (CTC) Public Relations Officer of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), following a publication of a report showing how Opeyemi failed to fulfill a scholarship pledge made to students—an assertion came from the former President of National Association of Kwara State Students (NAKSS).
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| A screenshot of the Legal Threat against Digest Reporter through WhatsApp message |
The controversy came up after the Digest Press published a follow-up story stating that Opeyemi had not delivered on his earlier promise of giving scholarships to students, a pledge which he had made publicly during his birthday celebration.
The DIGEST PRESS felt obligated to revisit the story since it was the platform that originally covered the announcement of the pledge.
“Since it was us that covered the pledge during his birthday, it’s only right for us to inform the student community about the situation. We are just doing our job—being transparent. Those pledges were voluntary, and the public deserves to know whether or not they were fulfilled,” said the Editor–in–Chief of Digest Press.
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| The report earlier published indicating the promises made by Abdullahi Opeyemi |
The EIC added that the pressboard maintained professional practices by balancing reporting, ensuring that both sides were fairly represented.
“As journalists, when we are reporting a story that involves people, it is a must to reach out to them and hear their own side of the story. This is also provided for in the Nigerian Constitution, everyone should be given fair hearing. We reached out to both parties while balancing the story, we made sure both parties' claims were included without being biased, we didn't make a report siding one over the other. That is transparency.”
A Surprising Threat of Lawsuit
Meanwhile, our reporter, Habibullah Temako was shocked to receive a message from Opeyemi threatening him with legal action over the report.
“Just last night, I got a message from Opeyemi saying his lawyer would soon contact me over my recent report about him. He accused me of writing scandalous words and trying to damage his reputation,” Temako revealed.
Temako described the lawsuit threat as “frivolous and ridiculous,”—an attempt to stifle press freedom, insisting that his report was factual and not based on personal opinions.
“To me, it sounds so ridiculous because we do what is necessary. As a journalist, I only did my job without making any claim from my own end, and I didn't add anything nor do I know if he had any bad intention against the reporter.”
‘We Are Well Prepared’— EIC, Digest Press UDUS
In response to the incident, Muhammed Akindele, the Editor-in-Chief of Digest Press, expressed firm support for his reporter, and the entire Digest Press team. He emphasized the pressboard’s commitment to always stand for the truth despite how difficult it might be even in the face of threat.
“I’m not moved because I don’t see that as a threat,” Akindele said. “It's not. We speak for our fellow students through our pen. If we face an attack while doing this, it means we're doing the right thing expected of a media outlet—speaking out against oppression, fake promises, and protecting the rights of our fellow students. Those are our core responsibilities.”