Secrets Reporters
The Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Arc. Sunday Echono, has dismissed a publication by SecretsReporters linking him to alleged family-owned companies and undisclosed financial activities, describing the report as false, misleading and based on recycled allegations.
In a statement issued on June 30, 2026, by his media consultant, Adagher Tersoo, Echono said the claims contained in the publication had previously been investigated, dismissed and judicially resolved in his favour.
Last week, SecretsReporters published a report titled, “Exclusive Investigation Raises Questions Over TETFund Boss Sunday Echono’s Alleged Links to Family-Owned Companies and Undisclosed Financial Activities,” alleging impropriety, conflict of interest and questionable financial dealings involving the TETFund Executive Secretary.
Responding to the report, Tersoo said the allegations were neither new nor credible, noting that they first surfaced in 2017 and were investigated by the Public Petitions Committee of the National Assembly.
According to the statement, the committee found the allegations to be without merit and dismissed them.
The statement further claimed that the allegations resurfaced in 2022 through George Uboh, whom it accused of republishing the previously discredited claims.
Tersoo stated that legal proceedings were subsequently instituted against Uboh and that the matter was decided in Echono’s favour.
According to the statement, Justice J.O.E. Adeyemi-Ajayi of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja Judicial Division, sitting at Life Camp, delivered judgment in favour of Echono and awarded costs against Uboh.
The statement said the judgment affirmed that the allegations lacked merit and questioned why Secrets Reporters chose to republish claims it described as having already been investigated, litigated and resolved.
“It is therefore surprising that SecretsReporters chose to resurrect allegations that have been investigated, litigated and judicially resolved, while deliberately suppressing these material facts from its readers,” the statement said.
The statement also rejected allegations of conflict of interest, insisting that none of the companies mentioned in the report had any contractual relationship or transaction with any ministry, department, agency or institution where Echono exercised authority or influence.
It further maintained that there was no factual or legal basis to suggest that Echono abused his office or used his position to benefit any private company.
Addressing claims relating to banking transactions involving Monarch Designs Limited, the statement said the transactions were legitimate and did not involve public funds, government contracts or any unlawful activity.
According to Tersoo, Monarch Designs Limited temporarily shared office space with a Bureau De Change, which used the company’s bank account for a limited period to receive transfers on its behalf.
He said documentary evidence showed that the funds were subsequently remitted to the Bureau De Change and had no connection with any government agency or public contract.
The statement also faulted SecretsReporters for allegedly failing to seek Echono’s response before publishing the story.
Tersoo argued that responsible journalism requires fairness, balance and verification, adding that the publication’s failure to contact Echono before publication demonstrated a lack of good faith.
“At no time did the publication contact Arc. Sunday Echono for his response or seek clarification before publishing such grave allegations,” the statement added.
He further claimed that individuals and media platforms that had previously circulated similar allegations later retracted their publications and apologised to Echono after the facts emerged.
The statement urged members of the public to disregard the publication, describing it as a recycled narrative that had been investigated, discredited and dismissed both administratively and through the courts.
Tersoo maintained that the allegations were intended to tarnish Echono’s reputation, describing him as a respected public servant.