Oak TV apologises to Lai Mohammedover N3.5 million El-Zakzaky feeding video

Oak Television has apologised to the Minister of Information,
Lai Mohammed, over a video in which the minister claimed the
federal government spends N3.5 million monthly to feed the leader
of the Shiite Islamic sect, Ibrahim El-zakzaky, who has been in
detention since December 2015.

The minister spoke off the record, but somehow the clip found
its way to the internet, trending on social media early
Thursday.

The private TV in its apology letter to the minister on
Thursday, said it has sanctioned its reporters for breach of
journalism code of ethics, as the minister had spoken off record
with the reporters.

“On Wednesday, November 7, 2018, Oak TV made some error in its
reporting regarding a conversation with the Minister of
Information,” the channel said.

”This is an error which we regret. All team members involved
have been sanctioned, and we would do more to tighten our
gatekeeping responsibilities.

”We apologise and regret any embarrassment this might have
caused the Minister.”

Mr Mohammed’s statement is believed to have been made on the
same day a Kaduna court denied Mr El-Zakzaky bail.

A video of the minister making the claim while addressing some
journalists has gone viral.

Our reporter confirmed Mr Mohammed did make the claim but had
told journalists he was speaking off record.

“The issue of whether, where he (Mr El-Zakzaky) is, at least
let’s keep it off record, that he is in a residence and you know
eating at the.

“It costs the government about N3.5 million every month to feed
him,” Mr Mohammed said.

The information minister was at that point interjected by the
transport minister, Rotimi Amaechi, who jokingly mocked the figures
saying “then you people need to take me in o.”

Mr Mohammed, then defended the figure he announced, saying
“Honestly, don’t quote me, but these are the facts.”

At N3.5 million monthly, it would mean the government is
spending about N115,000 daily to feed the detainee.

The claim has earned the minister intense criticisms with many
Nigerians dismissing the figure as implausible.