The Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, Ishaq Kawu. [Photo credit: THISDAYLIVE]
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences
Commission (ICPC) is investigating the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation
(NBC) over the misapplication of N2.5 billion seed grant released to
the agency by the federal government for its digital switch-over
programme.
The commission, in a statement signed by Rasheedat Okoduwa, its
spokesperson, on Thursday said it has so far quizzed the NBC Director
General, Ishaq Kawu, and other top management staff of the agency over
their alleged involvements in the misapplication of the fund.
The presidency had in 2016, released N10 billion to the Ministry of
Information and Culture for the digital switch-over programme which
entails migration of telephone lines from analogue to digital platforms
and a White Paper was issued directing that the process be specifically
handled by government-affiliated companies.
Based on the guidelines provided by the White Paper, two companies
were nominated to handle the process, one of which was ITS, an affiliate
of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA). About N1.7 billion was
released to it as seed grant for the commencement of the switch-over.
However, ICPC said on Thursday that through investigation, it
discovered that the process was fraught with alleged corrupt practices.
“It was alleged that Mr Kawu fraudulently recommended a private
company called Pinnacle Communications Limited, to the Minister of
Information and Culture, for the release of N2.5 billion against the
guidelines contained in the White Paper.
“The N2.5 billion was paid into the Zenith Bank account of Pinnacle Communications Limited in May/June, 2017 for the programme.
“The DG NBC during interactions with the Commission could not
justify why the government White Paper was flouted leading to the
release of money to an unqualified company,” the statement said.
It added that the Managing Director of Pinnacle, Dipo Onifade,
during interrogation confirmed the release of the funds to the company.
He could not justify that the money was used for the purpose of digital
switch-over.
The commission also said through investigation, it discovered
several suspicious transfers of large sums of funds from the account of
the company into the bank accounts of several organisations and
individuals.
It found out that N100 million of the fund was paid into the
personal bank account of Mr Onifade in Zenith Bank which he claimed was
for legal services that he had rendered to the same Pinnacle
Communications where he is employed.
Also investigation revealed that another N450 million was
transferred into the account of Sabdat Investment Limited, a Bureau de
Change, which then converted the money into dollars and handed it over
to the Chairman of Pinnacle Communications Limited, Lucky Omoluwa, in
his Kaduna residence as he usually did with other funds.
Mr Omoluwa had repeatedly failed to honour invitations, the Commission said.
“He had also sought the leave of the Federal High Court, Abuja,
to stop the investigation as well as unfreeze the Zenith Bank account
of the company that was frozen by ICPC, but was however ordered by the
same court to appear before ICPC for interrogation before the next
adjourned date of 3rd December, 2018 before his case would be heard.
” In compliance with the court order, Mr. Omoluwa has appeared
before the Commission where he made useful statements to investigators,” the ICPC added.
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Source: PREMIUM TIMES
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