A 36-year-old fake journalist identified as
Paul Yempe, who claimed to be the U.S-based Cable
News Network (CNN) Correspondent
in the Niger Delta region, has been arrested by security operatives in Bayelsa
State.
Paul Yempe, who claimed to be the U.S-based Cable
News Network (CNN) Correspondent
in the Niger Delta region, has been arrested by security operatives in Bayelsa
State.
Daily
Independent gathered
that the fake reporter was arrested last weekend in the office of the state
Commissioner for Energy, Francis Ikio, in Yenagoa.
Independent gathered
that the fake reporter was arrested last weekend in the office of the state
Commissioner for Energy, Francis Ikio, in Yenagoa.
A fake CNN identity card and another one
bearing the name of Rivers State Broadcasting Corporation, popularly called
‘Radio Rivers’, were found on him.
bearing the name of Rivers State Broadcasting Corporation, popularly called
‘Radio Rivers’, were found on him.
Yempe
was said to have, a few days before his arrest, arrived in the state capital
and established contact with the Secretary to the State Government (SSG),
Edmund Allison-Oguru, explaining that he had a documentary project to carry out
on Bayelsa.
was said to have, a few days before his arrest, arrived in the state capital
and established contact with the Secretary to the State Government (SSG),
Edmund Allison-Oguru, explaining that he had a documentary project to carry out
on Bayelsa.
It was
learnt that the SSG immediately arranged an accommodation for him in a
top-flight hotel in Yenagoa and followed it up with some ‘perks’.
learnt that the SSG immediately arranged an accommodation for him in a
top-flight hotel in Yenagoa and followed it up with some ‘perks’.
The SSG
was said to have referred Yempe to the Commissioner for Information and
Orientation, Markson Fefegha, whom he interviewed with his mobile handset.
was said to have referred Yempe to the Commissioner for Information and
Orientation, Markson Fefegha, whom he interviewed with his mobile handset.
Yempe’s
session with Fefegha, sources said, was not recorded with any camera.
session with Fefegha, sources said, was not recorded with any camera.
Apparently
feeling satisfied that he had started making some in-road on his mission, Yempe
dashed to Ikio’s office on the suggestion of Fefegha.
feeling satisfied that he had started making some in-road on his mission, Yempe
dashed to Ikio’s office on the suggestion of Fefegha.
But
luck ran out on him as he met Ikio seated with other guests, including the
Commissioner for Environment, Sylvanus Abila; immediate past Chairman of the
Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Yenagoa branch, Azebi; and the Chairman,
Bayelsa State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Tarinyo Akono,
who ordered his arrest.
luck ran out on him as he met Ikio seated with other guests, including the
Commissioner for Environment, Sylvanus Abila; immediate past Chairman of the
Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Yenagoa branch, Azebi; and the Chairman,
Bayelsa State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Tarinyo Akono,
who ordered his arrest.
“He
came to the office of the Energy Commissioner claiming to have come for an
interview as part of a documentary he is working on for the state.
came to the office of the Energy Commissioner claiming to have come for an
interview as part of a documentary he is working on for the state.
“I
asked the commissioner to allow him in and I apprehended him. I asked him for
his camera, but he said he is using his mobile handset as a recorder”, Akono
said.
asked the commissioner to allow him in and I apprehended him. I asked him for
his camera, but he said he is using his mobile handset as a recorder”, Akono
said.
When
contacted, Police Public Relations Officer, Bayelsa Command, Alex Akhigbe,
confirmed the arrest of the •••CNN••• impostor.
contacted, Police Public Relations Officer, Bayelsa Command, Alex Akhigbe,
confirmed the arrest of the •••CNN••• impostor.
Source: Daily Independent
