EFCC Arrests NCC Boss Ndukwe Over N5.4b Licences

By Yusuf Alli

19th May 2009

Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) boss Ernest Ndukwe was quizzed yesterday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the award of four slots of 2.3GHZ spectrum at about N5.4billion

Each slot or licence was awarded at N1.368billion.

Ernest Ndukwe

Gigahertz, generally abbreviated GHz, refers to frequencies in the billions of cycles per second range.

According to www.wise-geek.com, "GHz is commonly used when discussing computer performance or radio frequencies". "In radio communications, GHz is used to define bands of the electromagnetic spectrum. Different bands will be assigned different uses. S-Band, for example, is a band of spectrum between 2 and 4 GHz.

"Common technologies, such as Bluetooth wireless internet (Wifi)) and cordless telephones, operate in the S-Band. L-Band, between 1 and 2 GHz, is used for satellite communications and Global Positioning Systems, or GPS. Other notable bands in the GHz range include Ku and Ka, used by satellites as well as by police radar guns."

Ndukwe was arrested in his office yesterday afternoon after several weeks of covert probe of allegations against him.

It was gathered that shortly after his arrest, Ndukwe was taken to the Operations Department of the EFCC for interrogation.

As at press time, the NCC Vice-Chairman was still being grilled. There were indications that he might be detained overnight.

A source, who spoke in confidence, gave four reasons for Ndukwe’s arrest.

He said: "One of the issues against the suspect is that he offered four slots of 2.3GHZ spectrum to some applicants without due process at N1.368billion per slot

"Mobitel was one of the companies that could raise that amount in five days. And the same Mobitel had earlier been granted a waiver of N243milion out of outstanding indebtedness of N246million, leaving the company to pay only N3million.

"We are also probing an allegation that Ndukwe has been spending funds beyond budget limit approved for him as the head of the NCC.

"Another issue against the suspect is that he has been collecting pension, which is meant only for the employees of the NCC.

"Ndukwe is also accused of misleading the Federal Government over award of contracts for Community Information Centres. He was said to have deceived the government that the land for these centres are available, whereas information shows that in most of the states, especially in the South-East, there was no land allocation for the projects, which are to be completed on June 3, 2009."

Contacted, the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Femi Babafemi, said: "I am aware that Engr. Ernest Ndukwe is before a team of investigators who are interacting with him on some allegations against him."

The Head Public Affairs of the NCC, Mr. Reuben Mouka, said: "I am not aware of Engr. Ndukwe’s arrest but I know that he was invited by the EFCC. I cannot comment on what he was invited for but he is already on his way to the office. We will issue a statement later tonight."

Source: The Nation

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