Members of the dissolved board of the
National Broadcasting Commission, who were summoned by the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission, have denied that a N3.4bn fraud happened under
their watch.
The ex-directors said this in a letter
addressed to the EFCC which was signed by their lawyer, Chief Ogwu Onoja (SAN).
The anti-graft agency had invited members of
the board including Professor Herbert Orji (chairman), Mohammed Kabir Umar,
Mike Iheanetu, Yakubu Busa Buji, Ebenezer Ayorinde, Isa Badamasi Dahiru, Prince
Dennis Sam, Jude Nnodum (SAN), Emeka Mba (ex-director-general) and Peter Dama
(representative of the Ministry of Information).
The EFCC had said it believed that spectrum
(radio frequency) was leased to MTN for a period of 10 years at the rate of
$171m without an auction while 10 per cent broker fees amounting to N3.4bn was
paid to Technology Advisor even before a presidential approval.
However, the directors said they did no
wrong.
The statement read in part, “There is and was
no scam in the sum of N3.4bn or in any amount that our clients are aware of.
Specifically in relation to Technology Advisors, a proposal was submitted to
the NBC, which was brought up to the members of the commission for review.
“The salient aspects of the proposal referred
to the then members of the commission for consideration were the assignments to
be performed by Technology Advisors, and the fees, which the firm demanded.
Upon review, our clients agreed that the firm should be engaged to proceed with
the assignment as presented but that the fees of 20 per cent demanded should be
reduced to 10 per cent.”
The former directors said they neither leased
nor sold spectrum to MTN but only gave the company a licence which would enable
it to get the spectrum.
They explained that MTN was given the licence
by virtue of being the highest bidder.
The statement added, “The NBC neither sold
nor leased spectrum to MTN. Yes, MTN applied for its licence – like all other
licensees. However, since it took part in the special auction process, its
application was triggered by its success in making the highest bid in the sum
of $171m, which the then members of the commission accepted and directed the DG
of NBC to invite MTN to apply for the licence accordingly. Spectrum is only
allocated post-licensing, and is meant to enable those operations for which the
licensee is authorised to engage in its broadcast licence.”
The directors maintained that since all
Federal Government boards were dissolved in July 2015, they could not be
questioned over any transaction that took place thereafter.
The statement added, “The dissolution of
boards of government occurred in July 2015, and the members of the commission
had left office and moved on with their respective personal and official
endeavours. And this occurred before any monies were paid under this
transaction to any entity.
“Thus, by the time Technology Advisors or
other entities were paid any fees on the project, there was legally no board or
members of the commission in existence. Since that dissolution, the members of
the commission ceased to have any tie to the NBC in law, and should be accorded
the respect and dignity they deserve as distinguished citizens who served their
country creditably and remarkably.”
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