By Ibiyemi Mathew
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has refuted allegations that it leaked a phone conversation between the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi and the Presiding Bishop of the Living Faith Church, David Oyedepo.
Recall that a trending audio of a leaked phone conversation between the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi and the Presiding Bishop of the Living Faith Church, David Oyedepo was released by a media outlet, Peoples Gazette sparking various reactions.
One of such agencies that has come under fire is the NCC with claims of the agency being bribed by a leading politician in the country to leak the phone conversation.
However, the Commission’s directorate of public affairs has issued a press statement dissuading the allegations.
The statement issued by the Commission’s Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka reads thus: “The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has been inundated with enquiries by the media on allegations of telephone ‘tracking’ and ‘leakage’ made against the Commission by some individuals and groups in the social and alternative Media.
“The Commission wishes to make the following clarifications.
“The Commission denies the allegations in their entirety. By the provisions of the Nigerian Communication Act (NCA) 2003 and other extant Laws of the Federation, the Commission does not and cannot ‘track’ nor ‘leak’ telephone conversations of anyone.
“The Commission has reported the allegations, which we take seriously, to relevant security agencies for proper investigation and necessary action.
“The Commission restates its commitment to discharge its responsibilities to the Nigerian people in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; the NCA 2003; and other extant Laws of the Federation; and global best practices.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Commission denies these allegations and advises the public to disregard them,” the statement read.