Photo Credit: Nigerian Tribune
Nigeria’s oldest private media establishment, African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, the publisher of the Nigerian Tribune, has lamented the loss of its Abuja Bureau Chief, Dr. Leon Usigbe.
Dr. Usigbe died in Abuja on Friday, July 25, 2025, after falling ill.
Representatives of the newspaper, led by the Deputy Bureau Chief of its Abuja bureau, Segun Olatunji, paid a condolence visit to the family of the late staff on Saturday.
Olatunji stated that Usigbe was a thoroughbred journalist who diligently covered the Statehouse for the Tribune, while also overseeing the northern operation of the organisation.
The publication reported that Usigbe had initially fallen ill some time ago and was hospitalised at the State House Clinic for two weeks.
He was discharged and all was believed to be well until his condition took a turn for the worse and he was taken to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Abuja. He passed away there.
Olatunji, during his visit to the family of the deceased, nearly broke down in tears as he revealed that Usigbe’s demise was a huge loss to the company and the nation.
He said it was a sad day for his colleagues at the Tribune, and called on the family to carry the organisation along in their burial arrangements.
Apart from Olatunji, other staff members of the newspaper who visited Usigbe’s family included Mr Saliu Gbadamosi, Mr Taiwo Amodu, Mr Clement Idoko and Mr Taofeek Lawal.
On the condolence team were Samson Enejoh, Sunday Osunrayi, and Kazeem Biriowo.
Usigbe was a native of Uromi, Edo State. The late journalist had worked with the Vanguard Newspaper in Katsina, Kaduna and Abuja, covering the House of Representatives.
He was also at one point a Media Aide to former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Masari.
When his tour of duty was over, he returned to Vanguard Newspaper, from where he joined the Nigerian Tribune in Abuja.
Usigbe was described as an experienced political reporter and a fantastic storyteller by the Tribune.
The paper said Usigbe’s unwavering commitment to truth and integrity would be greatly missed.
