Just in: Leadership newspaper publisher, Sam Nda-Isaiah, dies at 58

Veteran journalist and well-respected newspaper columnist, Sam Nda-Isaiah has been declared dead, Vanguard reports.

Until his death, Nda-Isaiah was the publisher of Abuja-based Leadership newspapers.

Family sources confirmed to Daily Nigerian that he died around 11 pm on Friday, December 12 at the age of 58.

A family member told a Punch newspaper correspondent on the phone:

“Yes, it is true. I was just told now.” As at the time of this report, his family had not issued an official statement to confirm the story.

Legit.ng checks on his newspaper's website indicates no announcement on his death.

But some employees of the newspaper have posting messages on social media suggesting the information is accurate.

Andrew Essien, a senior political correspondent of Leadership newspaper, wrote on his Facebook page:

“Left to write in eternal quietness, the writer now has to be written about. What a shocking story!!!!”

Born in 1962 in Minna, Niger State, Mr Nda-Isaiah, who held the traditional title of Kakaki Nupe, studied Pharmacy at Obafemi Awolowo University.

He wrote the famous Monday Backpage column in Daily Trust before establishing Leadership Newspaper Group in 2001 and shifted to it to his medium.

An All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Nda-Isaiah headed President Muhammadu Buhari’s presidential campaign publicity committee in 2003.

He also contested for the APC presidential primary election prior to the 2015 contest.

His last public outing was a meeting of North Central leaders in Abuja, with notable personalities like former Senate president, Dr Bukola Saraki attending.

Nda-Isaiah's death comes a day after the Nigerian Ambassador to the United States of America, Sylvanus Adiewere Nsofor, died at the age of 85.

A former chief judge, the ambassador reportedly died on the night of Thursday, December 10.

In a related development, a prominent Nigerian businessman, Harry Ayodele Akande, was declared dead last weekend.

Media reports say the billionaire businessman died in the early hours of Saturday, December 5, at the age of 77 after a brief illness.