A civil society organisation, Conference of Civil Society for Peace, Security and National Development has described as mischievous, attempts by paid agents to tarnish the image and personality of the executive Secretary of TETFund, Mr. Sunny Echono.
In a press release jointly signed by Dr Adamu Muhammad and Hon. Mike Msuaan, the national convener and executive director respectively the group condemned the “baseless and unwarranted attacks on the person and office of the TETFund boss”, insisting that it is nothing but pure blackmail and character assassination.
Muhammad said, “We have read with dismay, a misleading and sponsored news story published in an online news outfit (name withheld) against the person of the executive secretary of TEDFUND, Arc. Sonny Echono.
“The outfit is notorious for cheap blackmail, slander and spurious character assassination against eminent citizens and public office holders with a lot of lawsuits culminating in billions of naira paid as damages. If this defamatory publication is not withdrawn and an apology tendered, we’ll be left with no option but to take legal actions.”
The CSO insisted that the allegations against Echono is not only baseless but petty blackmail, considering that he has been an outstanding civil servant for many years without even a query, rising to the position of Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education and now the Executive Secretary of TETFund.
“Echono exudes traits of a committed public servant. Honest and professional in his dealings in all responsibilities put under his watch.
“Accusing him of executing projects by proxy without being bold to mention any of the said companies he uses to carry out those projects is just a desperate attempt to throw mud on the reputation of the accomplished public officer by cooking up unsubstantiated claims. This media war aimed at damaging the pedigree of the Executive Secretary and by extension, the government of President Muhammadu Buhari will not work”, he added.
The CSO noted the share desperation of the news outfit to soil the personality of Echono right from his days as permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Education. Noting that their inability to point specifically at any fraud or corrupt practice perpetrated by Echono during his days as permanent secretary other than just saying he provided cover for fraud to take place while overseeing NECO shows that the newspaper is biased, unprofessional and must not be taken seriously.
