Fraud in NBC: EFCC recovers N10b, set to prosecute ex-DG Mba, three others

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has recovered NN10,061,172,600 from the National Broadcasting Commission(NBC) being alleged inflation of collateral funds meant for Digital Set-Top -Boxes.

EFCC

The commission is set to prosecute a former Director-General of NBC, Mr. Emeka Mba and three others.

Also to face trial is  the NBC’s Director of Finance, Mr. Patrick Areh, who received a curious transfer of N390million and another N20million cash gift from the contract sum.

Others are  the Managing Director, Technology Advisor, Mr. Basil Udotai, and the Managing Director of In-View Technology Limited and D-Vine Partners Limited, Mr. Babatunji Amure.

According to EFCC’s investigation, NBC under Mba defied the Federal Government’s directive  of August 7, 2015 on Treasury Single Account (TSA) to divert N15,038,400,000, out of N34,114,500,000 received from MTN for Spectrum Band Width, to finance the contract for the Digital Set-Top -Boxes.

Out of the diverted N15,038,400,000 as collateral security to Zenith Bank Plc, EFCC investigators discovered that only N4,977,227,400 was needed.

The commission said “only eight (8) out of the 12 companies opened letter of credit amounting to N3,739,727,400.00 while the sum of N1,237,400,000 was for the Digital Access Fees making a total of N4,977,227,400.”

The EFCC said after a reconciliation meeting with the Ministry of Information and Zenith Bank Plc, it was “agreed that N10,061,172,600 was in excess and should be recovered by the EFCC.”

Mba and others will face trial for non-compliance with the Federal Government’s directive on TSA, abuse of the Procurement Law, and award of contracts beyond the N50million spending limit of the DG of NBC.

A document obtained last night reads in part: “Sometimes  in 2015, the Federal Government through the Office of the Head of Service issued a circular dated 7/8/2015 directing all government parastatals and agencies to mop up all government funds in commercial banks to Treasury Single Account( TSA) with CBN.

“However the NBC in a flagrant disobedience to the directives of the government diverted the funds in its accounts to some companies.

“That on 28/7/15, the NBC received an inflow of N34,114,500,000 (Thirty four billion, one hundred and fourteen million, five hundred thousand Naira) from the MTN Operations  Account being proceed of lease of Spectrum Band Width licensed to MTN by the commission.

“That while the funds were in the account of NBC, the FG issued a circular dated 07/08/2015 to the effect that all government agencies and parastatals should mop up and move all the funds in their accounts to Treasury Single Account (TSA) with the CBN.  This directive was to both the agencies and the banks that maintained those  accounts.

“That despite the directives, the DG National Broadcasting Commission and the bank in a flagrant disobedience to the directive transferred the sum of N2,899,500,000 to the account of Technology Advisor on 12/08/15 and then moved the sum of N15,038,400,000 in two tranches on 10/09/2015 and 14/09/2015 to Zenith Bank Plc which he claimed was a collateral security for Set-Top-Boxes suppliers while the balance of N15,891,625,341.57 was transferred to TSA in CBN on 15/09/2015.

“That as soon as Technology Advisor received the funds in its account, he commenced distribution to several beneficiaries which include N390,000,000 and N20,000,000 paid to the Director of Finance and Accounts, Mr. Patrick Areh through Kalaz Ventures Limited, a Bureau De Change operated by Abdullahi Kabiru who confirmed receiving the funds which he transferred the sum of N130million to Azuku Global Resources Limited while the balance was exchanged into dollars and handed over to MD Azuku Global Resources Limited, one Ibrahim Samaila fir onward transmission to the Director of Finance and Accounts, Mr. Patrick Areh.

“That Areh confirmed receiving part of the funds in dollars while the balance of N130million was given to Azuku Global Resources Limited for the construction of his Radio House at Onitsha, Anambra State.

“That In-View Technology Ltd was contracted to provide Digital Access for the Set-Top -Boxes and was paid N1,237,400,000 out of which the company transferred N20million to Patrick Areh through Azuku Global Resources

Fraud in NBC: EFCC recovers N10b, set to prosecute ex-DG Mba, three others

EFCC Storms NBC , Arrest Officials, Carts away Vital Documents

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) monday stormed the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) in search of its account officer.

The operatives, whose mission was to apprehend the Director of Finance, Mr. Patrick Areh and other senior officials, were disappointed as very they were not on seat.

The investigators however ransacked some offices, especially in the finance department and were said to have carted away vital documents.

Although details of the operation were sketchy at the time of filing this report, THISDAY gathered that the team of investigators visited NBC in a bid to arrest Areh and others, but discovered that the directors were on leave.

THISDAY also gathered that the leadership of the commissions, including the Director General, Mr. Emeka Mba, might have gotten wind of the operation and disappeared from the premises.

The investigators, who arrived at the commission around 11a.m., spent about four hours in search of documents, and  interviewed some officials of the commission before they left at about 3p.m.

According a NBC source, “They came around 11a.m., one EFCC officer and two others dressed in police uniform. They requested to see some people, including the Director of Finance, Mr. Patrick Areh, but the director was on leave.

“They eventually went ahead to ransack offices and arrested a staff in the finance department. I wish I knew what they were looking for; probably they were acting on a tip-off. They came and mentioned the names of the people they wanted to speak with, some of them were around, while some were not around. Eventually they spoke with some people and searched the office.”

Upon enquiry, the EFCC however, feigned ignorance of the operation.

The spokesman of the agency, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said he was not aware that any staff from the commission visited the NBC. “I am not aware of such operation,” he said.

EFCC Storms NBC , Arrest Officials, Carts away Vital Documents

Radio Biafra takes transmission to internet - NBC

Five days after the dismantling of the equipment of Radio Biafra and the arrest of the operatives by the combined forces of the National Broadcasting Commission and the Department of State Security, the illegal radio station is still streaming on the Internet.

Radio Biafra

The Director of Public Affairs at the broadcast regulatory agency, Mr. Awwalu Salihu, confirmed this in a telephone interview with our correspondent in Abuja on Tuesday.

Salihu said the agency was unable to dismantle the online broadcasting “because the protocol for doing so is very long.”

He said, “I can confirm to you that they are still broadcasting through the Internet. This is because the protocol for bringing down Internet broadcast is a long one. But the process for bringing it down has started.”

Giving details on the operation of the terrestrial version of the radio station, the NBC spokesman explained that while the station lasted, it covered major cities in the South-East, including Enugu, Owerri, Aba as well as Port Harcourt.

According to him, while the station appropriated a frequency that it was never authorised to use, it also hopped on the frequency of licensed stations when they closed broadcast for the day.

Describing the station as a pirate radio, Salisu added that the broadcast was being treated as a breach of national security. He, however, could not disclose when the operatives of the station arrested by the DSS would be charged to court.

The Director General of NBC, Mr. Emeka Mbah, had on Friday announced the confiscation of the equipment of the illegal radio.

He said the commission had worked with other agencies to remove the transmissions of the illegal station from the satellite, adding that the action had put paid to the divisive and disruptive transmissions.

Radio Biafra takes transmission to internet - NBC

NBC neutralises “Biafra Radio” broadcasts, arrests operators

ABUJA – National Broadcasting Commission, NBC on Friday said it has “neutralised” illegal broadcasts from Biafra Radio which it said has “shattered” the peace of south east zone of Nigeria with hate and seditious messages.

It added that it had equally arrested its operators and confiscated many of their transmitters in various locations.

According to the Commission, the arrested operators had been taken to Abuja for prosecution.

A release by the Director-General of the Commission, Emeka Mba, stated that it efforts were being made to remove the transmissions of the illegal station from the satellite.

The Commission further decried activities of the “illegal Radio station”, through the transmission of messages, saying that Nigeria cannot afford another blood-letting after the civil war.

It however asked Nigerians to unite against the station.

The statement read thus:

“The national Broadcasting Commission, has effectively neutralised the illegal broadcasts from the seditious pirate radio station that has recently shattered the peace in parts of the south east of Nigeria with unsavoury hate messages.

“Working with security operatives, the Commission has also tracked down, neutralised and confiscated transmitter equipment from several locations in the region. Some suspects involved in the illicit broadcasts have also been arrested and taken to Abuja for questioning and prosecution.

“The commission has also worked with other agencies to remove the transmission of the illegal station from the satellite and this has put paid to the divisive and disruptive transmissions. We are working on the internet transmissions.

“The National Broadcasting Commission wishes to appreciate the concerns expressed by Nigerians over the seditions activities of the illegal “Biafra Radio” transmitting hate message that are unfortunately designed to create disunity among Nigerians and mislead young people in a deliberate act of subversion. Nigerians do not need another round of heartache and bloodshed.

“The Commission reiterates its calls to the public to disregard the hate messages coming from the misguided station, and urges Nigerians to unite in joining hands with the government to build a stronger and more prosperous nation.”

 

NBC neutralises “Biafra Radio” broadcasts, arrests operators