The latest quizzing of Mr. Osita Okechukwu, the Director Normal of Voice of Nigeria (VON), has continued to draw combined reactions.
NAIJATABLOID had reported that Okechukwu was grilled inside the week by the Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee, EFCC, over alleged mismanagement of over N2billion.
Nonetheless, sources have now ascribed the event to the infighting between the Minister of Data and Tradition, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and a few heads of businesses underneath the ministry.
Okechukwu’s ordeal is claimed to be just like the destiny that befell Ibrahim Modibo Kawu, a former Director Normal of Nationwide Broadcasting Company (NBC), earlier than his eventual exit.
There are claims that some high officers loyal to the Minister had been motivated to petition the Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee (EFCC and the Unbiased Corrupt Practices Fee (ICPC), which led to Okechukwu’s invitation to the anti-graft company’s headquarters final Saturday.
A supply claimed that Okechukwu angered the ACN camp of the APC when he supported the elimination of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, noting that the DG VON compounded his case along with his latest name on Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to not run for President, however to stay a kingmaker and unite the Southeast and Southwest by supporting a youthful individual from Southeast to succeed President Buhari.
It was additionally alleged that when some governors met not too long ago with President Muhammadu Buhari to complain in regards to the poor administration of the Federal Authorities data platforms, Okechukwu’s identify was among the many three that the governors advised.
Checks confirmed that Okechukwu’s invitation adopted an nameless petition, which claimed amongst others that the DG VON allegedly paid 2016 capital funds 100% the identical yr to obtain some gear and full the multi-storey head workplace company workplace of VON, off Aminu Kano Crescent Wuse 2, Abuja, a constructing that was by then underneath interim forfeiture.
On the character of protection equipped by Okechukwu, sources inside EFCC mentioned the VON DG denied the allegations within the petition that funds had been embezzled, arguing that each one the contracts had been executed and that Voice of Nigeria is at present occupying its company headquarters located at 1386 Aminu Kano Crescent.
“The DG knowledgeable operatives that what he did was for overriding public curiosity and on doctrine of necessity, stressing that shortly after his appointment, he searched for the plot of land allotted to VON in Abuja grasp plan, however was advised that the plot was reallocated to Yar’Adua Heart, as a token present to Gen Shehu Yar’Adua, who’s one in all Nigeria’s heroes of democracy that paid the supreme sacrifice.
“The DG additional advised the interrogating crew that he made acquisition of befitting company workplace his cardinal goal to upscale operations of the company. He added that being a up to date of the British Broadcasting Company (BBC) that Voice of Nigeria wanted a befitting workplace complicated to accommodate its methods and digitize its operations, particularly as VON now has numerous opponents,” the supply hinted.
VON, one of many businesses underneath the Federal Ministry of Data and Tradition, was established in 1991 because the worldwide radio broadcast arm of the Nigerian authorities.
EFCC sources mentioned the matter of curiosity to the company was whether or not there was financial sabotage or infringement of the procurement process, stating that the petitioners’ declare of doable diversion of funds was nonetheless being investigated as they alleged that some in-house costs differ with that of the Nationwide Data Growth Company.
He acknowledged: “What our investigating crew needed to know was how the DG spent public funds when he had not acquired the home. They mentioned Okechukwu’s protection was that he was reassured by Mr President’s approval in precept in July 2016, and the cooperation of Ibrahim Magu led EFCC.
“Nonetheless, Okechukwu maintained that given the dynamism of expertise the customers of Quick Wave transistor radio was on decline because of totally different geo-time zones the world over, the place 5 – Europe, North and South America, Southeast Asia, China are not any extra utilizing the quick wave frequency. It was now not serving the worldwide viewers as hitherto. As such it turned crucial to go digital according to modern realities within the digital broadcast world.
“I recall that the DG revealed that three months after his appointment he found that VON was merely squatting in Radio Home belonging to a sister company and he requested in regards to the whereabouts of the plot within the Abuja grasp plan. And so they advised him it was reallocated. He had his essential mandate to safe an workplace house for VON, digitalise broadcasting, present workers housing and photo voltaic power for the transmitter station.
“Okechukwu advised operatives that the Fee took him round to examine varied properties earlier than he settled for the one on the 1386 Oda Crescent, which was seized from the previous Chief of Air Employees (CAS), late Alex Barde.”
He disclosed that in July, that’s lower than three months later, he utilized to the President, who graciously permitted in precept and directed him to the chief of workers, who in flip directed him to the EFCC chairman.
Within the petition, the petitioners mentioned, “the irony of the scenario was that on the time VON moved into the premises, EFCC had not secured last forfeiture of the property.”
However, EFCC sources mentioned Okechukwu claimed that it was as a result of last forfeiture had not been granted that in 2018 Magu requested VON to hire the place at the price of N86 million, being the market worth of the property on the time, in order to .have one leg within the uncompleted constructing for the reason that Nigeria Airforce and others had been making strikes to take possession. Supply: DailyPost
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