In a reaction to allegations of monitoring and leaking private telephone conversation, the nation’s telecommunications regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has stated in strong terms that the allegations are false.
In a statement released on Tuesday and signed by Director, Public Affairs, NCC, Reuben Muoka, the Commission noted that it 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.”
It goes further to assert “The Commission wishes to make the following clarifications:
i. The Commission denies the allegations in their entirety.
ii. 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.
iii. The Commission has reported the allegations, which we take seriously, to relevant security agencies for proper investigation and necessary action.
iv. 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.”
It will be recalled that the media was recently awash with a leaked telephone conversation between the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the recent election, Peter Obi, and a popular cleric. While some Nigerians condemned the content of the conversation, many others lamented on the source of the leakage, noting that it shows that there is no communication privacy in the country.
