The Yobe State government has petitioned the Nigerian Press Council over what it termed "the disturbing and unethical practices" of Mr. Sam Nda-Isiah, publisher and columnist of the Abuja based LEADERSHIP newspaper.

The petition was copied the President of the Nigerian Newspapers Proprietors' Association of Nigeria (NPAN) and the President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE).

In the petition titled: "Complaint against Mr. Sam Nda-Isiah and the LEADERSHIP Newspaper" dated February 27, 2013, the Yobe state government alleged that since 2011, the standing of its government and people have been suffering in the eyes of the right thinking members of the society as a direct result of Mr. Nda-Isiah's blackmail.

The petition signed by Abdullahi Bego, Special Adviser on Press Affairs and Information to the Yobe State government reads: "Mr. Nda-Isiah and his newspaper are fixed on a deliberate editorial policy to fabricate barefaced lies against us, to ridicule our institutions and inflame negative passion, simply because we refused to yield to their ceaseless, unrealistic and unreasonable demands for advertising patronage," they said.