The former Secretary General of the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) union, Omar Faruk Osman has been accused of extreme fraud.
Mr. Osman was also the Executive committee member of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ). Mr. Osman is still holding the union website illegally. He was removed democratically by the union’s security council.
The union is due to hold its General Assembly with delegates coming from South/Central, Galmudug and Puntland regions, which is days to go.
Mr. Omar Faruk Osman has been accused of extreme fraud by obtaining money from the International Federation of Journalists’ (IFJ) Safety Fund and other donors belonging to wounded/killed journalists at 2009 Shamo Hotel bombing. He over-stayed in the office and refused to convene a General Assembly meeting on August 2008.
The Union’s legitimate officials sent a letter of indictment to the regional court demanding the stoppage of the illegal activity conducted by the former secretary General, Omar Faruk Osman and Abdirisaq Omar Ismail, the former president. After his refusal to the court invitation, the union asked the office of the Attorney General of the TFG to impose travel ban.
“We want him to be accountable for his past wrong doings in the union including loss of funds, corruption and violation of union constitution among many others during his term in the office. We want justice for our staff victims and other colleague victims and want to prevent that the same violations will not happen again in the union.”- Burhaan Ahmed Daahir, NUSOJ President
The union has filed an indictment case against Omar Faruk Osman and Abdirisak Omar Ismail at the regional court in Mogadishu. The court invited him to appear in the court to defend himself but he did not comply and left the country on 16th March 2011 after paying bribery at the airport. Omar, being an IFJ executive committee member is not beyond the law and is wanted by the law.
The president of the National Union of Somali Journalists highlighted that the court case against the former Secretary General, Omar Faruk Osman is an internal union case which is aimed to ensure justice for victims of corruption, violation of labor rights in line with the union constitution, free from government intervention.
The National Union of Somali Journalists call for the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) to stop taking sides. The union urged IFJ to be the frontline runner for decent work, democratic leadership, fight against the corruption, transparency and justice.
For More Information, please don’t hesitate to contact:
– National Union of Somali Journalists NUSOJ KM4 Area Hodan District Mogadishu, Somalia
