A former anchor of TVC News’ Journalists’ Hangout, Ayodele Ozugbakun, has described recent allegations against veteran journalist Babajide Kolade-Otitoju as a deliberate campaign aimed at tarnishing his reputation and bringing him down.
Ozugbakun, who is also the Northern Bureau Chief of TVC News, said he was compelled to speak out because of his more than 10-year relationship with Kolade-Otitoju and his deep knowledge of the history and operations of Journalists’ Hangout.
He said, “I have worked with Babajide Kolade-Otitoju for more than 10 years. He is my boss turned blood brother and confidant. We are like five and six, so I know him very well.”
Ozugbakun said his relationship with Kolade-Otitoju began before the latter joined TVC in 2013, adding that they had remained close despite his subsequent transfer to Abuja as the Northern Bureau Chief of TVC News.
He stated, “We sat down together to design the programme in 2015, and as such, nobody is in a better position to talk about BKO and Journalists’ Hangout than myself.”
According to him, his experience as the pioneer anchor of the programme placed him in a position to distinguish between what Kolade-Otitoju actually said and what had been attributed to him.
“I can recall what he said and what he did not say. So, I am countering this in my personal capacity because it is the right thing to do and I am in a better position to challenge this false narrative,” he said.
Ozugbakun also rejected the description of Kolade-Otitoju as an “APC apologist”, saying the label was designed to discredit the journalist and misrepresent his professional record.
He said, “No journalist in Nigeria has criticised the APC more than him. You can check past episodes of the programme. His comments on issues cannot be dictated by the whims of some people. When there is a need, he says it as it is.”
On the controversy surrounding an alleged comment concerning United States drug files, Ozugbakun described the claim as false and part of an alleged campaign against the veteran journalist.
“This purported statement about US drug files is a complete fabrication and misinformation to drag BKO online. Nothing more,” he stated.
Ozugbakun urged members of the public to verify the allegation by watching the August 21, 2026 edition of Journalists’ Hangout and other editions of the programme available online.
He added, “Rather than posting what is clearly unverified about what he said, why not just confirm first? If the post is genuinely dictated by concern for information and facts, the reproduction from the wall of Isaac O Obakpee is unnecessary, unwarranted, and just another attempt to advance the gang-up against BKO.”
The TVC News bureau chief also praised Kolade-Otitoju’s professional record, describing him as a cerebral and widely travelled journalist who had distinguished himself in both print and broadcast journalism.
“He is one of the most decorated journalists that I know alive today, right from his time in print journalism to broadcast now,” Ozugbakun said.
He further alleged that Kolade-Otitoju’s recent achievements and recognition, including his designation as a hero of the June 12 struggle by the Federal Government, had contributed to the hostility against him.
Ozugbakun maintained that the alleged campaign would not succeed, saying, “It will end in disappointment because he soars higher and will continue to shine on the show.”
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