Embattled NBC Boss Fingered In 16 Illegal Radio Licenses For Self, Children, Others

The embattled Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Mr. Ishaq Kawu Modibbo, is alleged to have awarded 16 radio licences to himself, his children and some people close to the Presidency without due process.

The allegation was made by the Coalition Against Corruption and Bad Governance (CACOBG) on Saturday in Abuja.

According to the CACOBG, six slots were for Modibbo’s private company, Word, Sound and Vision Multimedia (WSV) Limited, and the other 10 approved for companies which neither applied nor appeared on the list approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The chairman of CACOBAG, Alhaji Toyin Raheem, in a statement said independent findings revealed that Alhaji Babagana Kingibe, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and his family were among the 10 beneficiaries of the radio licenses recently doled out by the NBC.

He demanded that the Federal Government should direct anti-corruption agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other-Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the allegation.

The organisation threatened that should the Federal Government and the anti-graft agencies fail to act by probing the allegations, it would “be left with no other option but to approach the court to seek an order of mandamus to compel them to do their duty as conferred on them by the laws of the land.”

Raheem said, “We are again compelled to draw the attention of President Buhari and indeed the Nigerian public to another finding, which indicates that one of the 10 illegal radio licenses doled out by the leadership of NBC is owned by the family of Alhaji Babagana Kingibe.

“The 10 companies that did not apply or bided for any radio license were smuggled into a list already approved by President Buhari.

“Our findings at relevant quarters show that one of the beneficiaries of the doctored license list is Oracle Exclusive Services and Consult Ltd, with its registered address as 20 Monrovia Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja.

“Further investigations also reveal that the company has only two directors/shareholders, who are both children of Mr Kingibe, namely; Abdulkabir Kingibe and Zara Aminu Deribe, who both gave the same address as 59 Nelson Mandela Crescent, Asokoro, Abuja.

“This is obviously another confirmation of one of the ways the deadly cabal around President Buhari operates by circumventing due process and manipulating his approvals for personal benefits.

“We believe this is totally unacceptable in a country governed by rules and regulations. This is an abuse of office and a display of cheer greed.”

The CSO urged Buhari and the anti-graft agencies that had been petitioned on this matter to move swiftly and probe its allegation against NBC and its leadership.

“We reiterate our earlier call on President Buhari to immediately direct the EFCC and ICPC to launch an investigation into this embarrassing development to protect the integrity of the administration, which professes zero tolerance for corruption as one of its cardinal pillars. We equally assure the public of our commitment to expose corruption anywhere we find any”, Raheem stated.

Modibbo is currently facing N2.5bllion criminal charge before the federal high court Abuja.