Dangote Refinary bourgeoning debt twist: Armed Policemen invade MMS office
By Jerry Aguigbo
With the mounting pressure to deliver the world largest privately owned Refinary even with a burgeoning debt threatening to stall this, the management of Dangote Refinary has become very desperate it’s tracks.
Could that explain why it has decided to go for the jugular to stifle and muscle the press as armed policemen allegedly acting on it’s behest, invaded the office of Kings Communication LTD. Publishers of the MMS newspaper in an attempt to arrest it’s Editor- In-chief, Kingsley Anaroke and the news editor, Kenneth Kupor.
The MMS in one of it’s publications has probed into alleged irregularities in the construction of the multi-billion dollars Dangote Refinery in spite of several attempts to gag and stifle the report by the promoters of the mega refinery.
The story, as published by MMS Plus had alleged a possible take over of Dangote refinery by AMCON owing to astronomically rising debts.
Which has hardly been mitigated by large scale borrowing, even with the NNPC coming into the picture with a N3billion stake partly paid to cushion the effect of the mounting debts.
Anaroke said the siege by the police was a confirmation of earlier threats made by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Dangote Group, Mr. Anthony Chiejina at the weekend.
“Chiejina had threatened to deal with the editorial leadership of the news outfit via legal action following the news story titled “AMCON May Take Over Dangote Refinery As Liabilities Swell” published by the media organization
“After several failed attempts to get the Editor to pull down the story, the Dangote spokesman, instead of a rejoinder or the legal action which he threatened against our media house, has resorted to bullying by sending four policemen to besiege the headquarters of Kings Communications Limited in Festac, Lagos.
“The policemen asked for keys to the personal office of the Editor-in-Chief.
“It should also be on record that Chiejina had searched for the photos of the news editor, Jukpor and Publisher, Anaroke on Sunday and sent them to the Editor as a subtle threat which was ignored”
“This statement has become necessary to draw the attention of the global press to the plight of Journalists who refused to be gagged”Anaroke insisted.
Recall that MMS Plus had reported that the largest privately owned Refinary in the world and by extension, Africa’s biggest Refinery and the world’s largest is enmeshed in a deep financial
debt rapids from burgeoning
interests spiraling into millions of dollars. The said publication had also alleged a possible takeover of the project by the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).
All attempts to get the reactions of Anthony Chiejina, Chief Corporate Communications Officer of Dangote Group proved abortive as he ignored all calls and texts sent to his mobile numbers.
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